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Sharing My ‘X’mas Memories With You 3

Sharing My Magic of

Christmas Memories With
You

By Rob McConnell

As a young child, I can remember the magic that
the Christmas Season brought to the world.
The spirit of love and joy that filled the
air. Happiness and smiles could be seen on the
busy streets of Montréal and in the little south
shore community, some 30 miles south of
Montreal of Chambly where we lived, and in
the hustling- bustling stores as holiday shoppers Perfect Christmas Tree” which he proudly paid come. Dad would then sing or read us a story
bought gifts for their loved ones. People would for and brought to our car for the trip home. that lulled us to sleep.
dig deep into their pockets to put a little bit of There is something very magical about being in In the early hours of Christmas morning
help into The Salvation Army Donation the center of a Christmas Tree lot being surround my brother and I would wake-up, (waking the
Kettles…bring food to the various shelters… by the Christmas Trees that would all bring so other up if he was still sleeping) to magically
and the thriving St. Stephen’s Church Christmas much joy to so many people. If Christmas had a find a Christmas Stocking filled with fruit,
Bizarre that was organized to help the less smell, I am now certain it is that of a real candy and toys at the end of our beds. With all
fortunate of the congregation and community. Christmas Tree! the anticipation that two little boys could stand,
There was something very magical A day or two before Christmas, Dad we would ever so quietly creep down the stairs
about watching the Santa Claus Parade on would always ask for our help when he brought to peek into the living room, to see if Santa had
television and then watching Santa arrive at our Christmas Tree into the house from the back been to our house yet.
Montreal’s downtown Eaton’s store where porch, where we had proudly displayed our As we approached the living room, you
Mom and Dad would take my younger brother Christmas Tree for all to see who passed our could actually feel the Magic of Christmas
and I to see Santa. home. Smiles and the feeling of pride were felt beaming out from the living room and then there
Even today, many years later as I write by my brother and I for we knew that this is was, in its entire splendor, a glorious, fully
this article, I can feel the Magic of Christmas... magnificent tree was going to adorn our home as decorated wonderful Christmas Tree with oh so
that very same feeling as when we rode the a testament to the Magic of Christmas. I always many presents beneath.
escalators up to the 5th Floor in Eaton’s and that thought of our Christmas Tree as a beacon for Santa had come! The glass of milk that
all inspiring feeling as we walked up the ramp Santa and his reindeer to find our home, making we had left for Santa was now empty and the
to see Santa, all over again. sure that he delivered the right gifts to the right cookies we had left for him were gone!
That magical feeling is still felt each and house. After a little while of just staring in
every time I open a Christmas Card from family Christmas Eve was always filled with wonderment at all of the presents under our
and friends. magic at our home. During our baths, the Christmas Tree, the anticipation was too much
Memories flood of times gone by when Christmas Angels would bring brand new for our little hearts to behold. We would run up
watching TV when there is a commercial about pajamas to my brother and I and we would find the stairs to Mom and Dad’s room loudly
a Christmas show that I watched with family them under the Christmas Tree that now adorned exclaiming that Santa had been here!
during Christmas oh so many years ago, when our living room. Only the Christmas Tree lights Never too tired to wake up with a smile
growing up in Chambly, Quebec, along a small were now on our tree, since every year we had and a loving “Merry Christmas,” Mom and Dad
river where we fished in the summer, and skated been told that the Christmas Angels would would drag themselves out of bed to join us on
on in the winter. return to decorate our tree later that night, before our Christmas morning ritual of tearing through
I can still smell the honey cake as it Santa arrived. the layers of Christmas present wrapping paper
baked that my Mom still makes to this very day Our little hearts were now pounding with to see what glorious presents Santa had brought.
at Christmas time. I can still hear Mom and Dad anticipation, knowing that in just hours, that in The feeling that is felt by one and all, the
singing Christmas carols as we decorated our the very spot where my brother Anthony and I young and the old, with their family and loved
home for Christmas and the feeling of love and were now picking up our brand new pajamas, ones during the Christmas Holiday Time is truly
wholeness as aunts, uncles and cousins would Santa himself would be standing there. the Magic of Christmas.
visit to bringing with them the love that we all I remember proudly thinking to myself Throughout Christmas Day, family and
shared with each other. that Dad always picked the most beautiful friends always stopped by to exchange
The night that Dad would take my Christmas Tree in the world and that it was now Christmas wishes as Mom prepared the
brother and I to buy our Christmas Tree was a in our living room. Mom would then help us Christmas dinner. Even now, I can smell the
sure sign that some night very soon, Santa strategically place milk and cookies in the living turkey cooking in the oven.
would be making his magical flight around the room for Santa to help nourish him on his
world, bringing toys to all the boys and girls, worldwide mission of happiness, love, peace (Continued on Page 4)
who, of course had tried their very best and joy.
throughout the year to be as good as they could Mom and Dad would then tuck my Past editions of
be. brother and I into our beds, reminding us that the The ’X’ Chronicles Newspaper, go to:
Dad always knew where to find “The sooner we went to sleep, the sooner Santa would rel-mar.com/digital-publications