Christmas Romance

Christmas Day 2009 was a gloriously sunny day in Vancouver - sans the snow. This Christmas season Vancouverites wistfully compared the weather to last year when we were blanketed with snow. A white Christmas is both romantic and impractical.

Indeed, this Christmas we missed the romance of last year's Christmas. Christmas Eve 2008, it snowed most of the day. The snow accumulated on top of previous snow falls and driving became treacherous. One of the pleasures of living on Lonsdale is that we can walk to stores, friends and church.

We put on gum boots and stylishly matched them with our hats, scarves and warm coats. Like pioneers we walked eighteen blocks to a Christmas Eve service. We stopped by Morrie and Em's place and walked the last five blocks together. It was snow quiet and dark. We walked in the road as few cars were out and about. As true Vancouverites would, we put up our umbrellas to keep dry from the falling snow.

The Christmas Eve service was sparsely attended. Did I mention the impracticality of snow? We sang carols, commemorated the birth of our Saviour, drank hot chocolate and chatted with others who made it to the service. On the way home, twenty steps from the church, some-one started a snow ball fight. Was it Morrie or was it M? It is almost guaranteed to be one of the boys, but it didn't take long for the girls to join in. We hooted with laughter at misdirected snowballs and ones that hit their mark.

Who else could we throw snowballs at? We headed to friends who live one block down from Morrie and Em. We could see easily into their second floor apartment. Angus was watching TV and Josie was working at a craft at the dining room table. We directed snowballs at their window. Splat, splat. Our snowballs were getting their attention. Angus came to the window irritated by the neighbourhood kids throwing snowballs. He opened the patio door and we broke out into a rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

It was good to be kids again. We smiled, waved, shouted Christmas wishes and went on our way.

Christmas day was spectacular! The sky was an intense crisp blue. The snow was pristinely innocent. We equipped ourselves again in our gum boots, scarves and warm coats and trudged up to Morrie and Em's for brunch. A local supermarket had been cordoned off overnight; the roof had collapsed under the weight of the snow. A neighbour of Morrie and Em's was red-faced, exasperated and sweaty as she finished digging her car out of the snow. She didn't look too merry as we greeted her. I did mention the impracticalities of snow, didn't I?

Yes, we sure missed the romance of a white Christmas this year, but at least we don't have to dig ourselves out of the rain.