n THE CARILLON STEINBACH, MAN. C4
n www.thecarillon.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
C hristmas W riting C ontest WINNERS
Celebrating a festive and merry Christmas
THIRD PLACE – ADULT STORIES
The Unexpected Game
by Veronica Pawluski EDMONTION, AB
I t was your typical, beautiful Christmas Eve many years ago when I left my apartment in Winnipeg to head to work at Eaton’s downtown. I was a cashier there, part of a big ensemble of employees that worked in that beautiful building with eight floors, selling every- thing you could want. Back in the day, it was a one-stop shop! An old but well-built building, the Eaton’s design- ers knew how to capture the spirit of Christmas - the store was just a delight for the eyes during the season. In the basement was a grocery store, and that was where I worked while I put myself through college. On this particular Christmas Eve, it was as busy as can be. Christmas Eve tends to have a special feel to it. Most people make special plans to spend time with family and beloved friends. Kids are of course so excited for the presents they may get, and some adults can get pretty excited too! This Christmas Eve was no different! I was really looking forward to heading out to my hometown in southern Manitoba and spending the evening with my five siblings, their spouses and my parents. Christ- mas Eve at our house was magical, as I hope it is in many homes. Typically, we spent the night playing some card games and enjoying some of the delicious traditional
ers sharing news about the shift in the weather outside. Having grown up in the rural area, I was not worried about the weather or driving conditions and didn’t think too much of it, as young people are apt to do. I finished the shift, and off I went to gather my things and head out to our small town. Well, a kilometre out of Winnipeg and I was turned around and heading back to the city. It was one of those blizzards that one could not even drive slow through. The snowflakes were huge, and pummel- ing across the road in such a way that a driver couldn’t see the lines, or whether they were even still on the road! In the city, the effects of the blizzard were much reduced: the buildings were protecting the roads from the wind and so it was relatively easy to get back to the apartment. As a young adult, I took it hard that I was missing Christ- mas Eve with the rest of the family. I suffered a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). I called a time or two, just to see how things were going. Keep in mind that there were no cell phones in those days, so we didn’t FaceTime or text constantly to keep in touch. It was a long night of feeling left out. The next morning, Christmas Day, the sun was out, and it was just beautiful. Although cold, it was crispy and fresh. The snow seemed like glitter as I drove out that morning. I was feeling happy and excited! When I got to the house, I came into the porch and took off my jacket and shoes, noticing it was awfully qui- et. How strange! I walked into the house, and my whole family was gathered around the table playing a game. They didn’t even turn around to say hello! I felt so upset that they didn’t seem to miss me. Didn’t anyone care that I was there and had missed Christmas Eve? I turned around and went into another room, fuming. Not a minute later, my sister came in. She told me to come to the kitchen and see what they were playing. She could see I was upset and encouraged me to look at what was happening. I walked up to the table, and everyone backed away a bit so I could see the game they were playing. It took me a moment to figure out what was happening. There was a gi- ant, homemade game board with my name in the title. It was similar in looks to a Monopoly board. On each square, there was some repre- sentation of my life. For example, on one square, they had me working hard at Eaton’s, trying to gain stars on my badge for excellent service. This is something I worked hard at getting, only to find out after many years that the star reward program had been discontinued years earlier unbeknownst to me! We all had found humour in that, so they made it into a square. There was also a square depicting how many dishes I left in my room when I lived with a sister. The board was full of fun observations and depictions of my life. That moment was a memorable moment, they had spent time the night before compiling ideas for this board, and so in a way it made me feel as though I had been there after all. My family made me feel very special that morning (even though it didn’t start out that way!) and I have kept that game board all these years. I have taken it out from time to time to share with my own family, to let them know that the little things they do for others can really be impactful. I don’t really remember the Christmas Eve I missed, but I do remember very well how my family showed me that they loved and valued me. It’s a fond and important memory for me, and a great reminder to put the extra effort in to make sure people know they belong and are loved. In the end, is that not the most lasting gift of all?
SVJETLANA MLINAREVIC THE CARILLON Julie Griffin has fun with one of the wreaths she created at the Clearspring Centre’s Christmas Craft Sale on Nov. 15, 2024, in Steinbach.
Christmases with you THIRD PLACE – ADULT POETRY
by Paula Lamontagne WOODRIDGE, MB
I remember so many Christmases There were the ones of my youth The one where there was no snow I remember the time when we got that large toboggan And we went sliding on the hill And we laughed and laughed So many Christmases I remember The ones with my own family I can still hear the excitement of the children And all the glowing faces and laughter And the songs they sang So many Christmases I have lived through And now as I go on without you I will remember all those Christmases with you And this will be the first Christmas without you And I will make the best of it that I can But I will remember the Christmases with you
Dutch food my mother was so good at. We’d have chips and pop, shortbread and coconut cherry bars, and oth- er special things we didn’t get often throughout the year. As a young adult, I was just starting to eke out a life on my own; I was starting to appreciate my family and was starting to notice they were actual people! That’s the stage I was in. My whole family was already at our childhood home, getting ready for the evening. The customers at Eaton’s were happy and cheerful that day, as one might expect. Many well wishes were shared, with a couple custom-
Best Wishes for a joyous Christmas filled with Love, Happiness and Prosperity!
Happy Holidays! Best wishes for achieving your career goals in the new year.
The RM of Piney wishes you and your family a safe and memorable holiday season! From the Reeve, Council & Staff of the
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