When I was a child, few things excited me more than the little wrapped packages my mother placed below the Christmas tree as Dec. 25 approached. By Christmas Eve, after Santa had passed through, a pile of packages beckoned, and my brother and I were thrilled to touch them, rattle them and try to guess what might be inside.
In fact, the anticipation was often as exciting – perhaps more exciting – than the gift itself. It wasn’t just me. My brother’s eyes were always alight with mischief; he loved guessing games.
On Christmas Eve after an evening mass, we munched on German marzipan, homemade sprinkle cookies and fresh clementines and raced around the living room. We waited for the moment, the magical moment mom said we could open a present.
My brother always hoped for board games, while my wishes were usually for a new Barbie doll, Nancy Drew book or the elusive Easy-Bake oven, which never arrived – possibly because Santa considered it frivolous when we had a real oven I could use for baking. But I was always thrilled with everything under the tree and was especially gleeful when my parents pretended they liked the homemade gifts I had made for them at school.
This year, it’s not about the gifts at all. Although I have no doubt I will receive some – in fact, parcels have already arrived – I know that no present will be special this year.
That’s because there is only one thing I want more than anything this year, and that’s reuniting with the people with whom I am closest – my two daughters. When you’re together year-round with everyone who is most special to you, it’s easy to focus on gifts, on the clothes and books and perfumes that can make life more enjoyable. But this year, I have thought of nothing else than seeing my daughters, who are ages 17 and 20. With my husband taken by cancer, they are now everything, and they will be here very soon.
We had intended to come together to Squamish as a family, but my youngest needed to stay in Ontario to graduate from high school with all the right credits on her transcript to apply to universities. The eldest is already in her third year of university and will need to complete her degree. My daughters encouraged me to follow my dream and said they’d be along to B.C. soon after. We have close friends in Ontario helping them when needed, so they’re successfully juggling their studies, part-time jobs, dance and sports.
This year, I am not excited about Christmas morning or gifts at all. I am most excited about driving to the Vancouver International Airport; the magical moment will be when I see their bright smiles and hear their giddy laughter.
I am excited to introduce them to this wonderland where the mountains touch the ocean, where hiking trails can provide excitement, where a winter’s day can include a mild walk to the beach.
I am excited to hug them.
Then, it will be Christmas, and I will have received the best gift of all.
