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-- PORT PERRY STAR CHRISTMAS GREETINGS - Tuesday, December 18, 1990 - 3 FIRST PLACE WINNER PORT PERRY STAR CHRISTMAS STORY CONTEST by Richard Borek, Port Perry Thoughts of Christmas came in July that year. On a limpid summer's day, when the sun baked the pavement hot enough to suck your soul through your shoes, we sat waiting in a hospital office. The room was sterile and barren, as they all seem to be, with only a few token books and instruments, and no personal item which might have claimed the office for someone. We waited - my father, poking holes into a styrofoam coffee cup and making hollow conversation about drawing in the last of the bales from the field before the rains came; me, staring-at a Rockwell print of a boy dropping his pants while a graying, kindly faced fellow was preparing an in- jection, and mother, tugging at her rjewly/coiffed hairdo. Suddehly, young doctor breez- ed in, freshfaced and almost too innocent for the business at hand - diagnosing illness and health, proclaiming death and life. Yet, without hesitation or nervous pause, he announced in a steady voice obviously acquainted with these situations, "The results are positive." Now, in a world where positive is associated with goodness, these words had a cruel ring to them. In my mother's case, positive was the worst of all possible words - she had cancer. Somewhere, bur- rowed deep in her brain was a small tumor, eating away at her speech, at her coordination, at her thoughts and memories. And it wasn't only the horror of death which faced my mother, but also the indignity of deteriorating in- to a bedridden helplessness, eyes vacant and mouth gaping, in front of those who loved her. After all our clumsy questions 8 IHaving customers like you 2 3 makes it all worthwhile. Oo © &. all the staff at = 5% VILLAGE TAXI gig Yio $80 we Gers orion of 0 7° Gg Ag § SEASON'S GREETINGS * AND MANY THANKS! i oO O. Merci Gracias, Gratzia, Danke Shane, Spaceba However you say it, a world of thanks to all of you. Best Wishes from Colleen, Penny, Dawn & Virginia Thanks so much for your friendship and patronage. To our Sponsors ... GATE RESTAURANT, IDA PHARMACY, PIZZA DELIGHT From the Port Perry Merchants Ladies' Broomball Team were asked, some repeatedly, and after the appointments for the ultimately futile therapy were made, after the gamut of emo- tions were run, I turned to my mother and asked her, *'Is there anything special you want to do, a trip, or something...?"' She leaned over, kissed my cheek, and whispered, *'I'd like to make it to Christmas." Time has precious little mercy. Long summer days soon gave way to frosty nights. The leaves flamed into colour, then dropped to the ground. Soon the ground was sprinkled with snow. Christmas was on the horizon. My mother held on grimly to her faculties. Her speech became slurred, then dissociated, but she spat out her words slowly and deliberately in defiance. She began to lose her balance at times and drop things, but my father was forever by her side. She lost all use of her left hand, but she compensated with her right. This was courage, but in real life there is no tragedy, just pain and sadness. The prospect of the coming Christmas was a strange mixture of thankfulness and bitterness. As we prepared for the festive season, I became burdened with the dilemma of choosing a last gift for my mother. What do you give a dying per- son? Ceitainly the luxuries of the world mean nothing for someone soon to leave it. Jewels, gold are but mere stones and metal. Of what.use is perfume and faddish clothing to someone who would not outlive their use? The elec- tronic wizardry and devices of modern technology are just gadgets to someone who can bare- A Gift To Last ly cradle a cup of soup in one hand. What do you give a dying per- son? I began to probe my father for insights and my mother for hints. I asked my wife, and children even, for suggestions. | began to pester friends and strangers, countergirls, shopkeepers, waitresses, any and everyone, but few could unders- tand the importance of my dilem- ma. [ became desperate, almost obsessed, browsing for hours in stores, from jewellers and fashionable boutiques to hard- ware and specialty shops. What do you give a dying mother? 1 settled for a token locket with a family photo of my wife and me, and my two sons, the grandsons my mother adored. Christmas day pounced upon us. My wife bustled with the last minute preparations. My sons giggled with excitement. The radio streamed endless carols. It seemed all were oblivious to the heaviness in my heart. We arrived at the farm, my parents' home and the place I grew up. My father met us at the door with a frozen smile and forc- ed cheer in his greeting. Inside, my sister's family scurried about. My mother, now almost unable to speak at all, whimpered. ""Mmer...mer...mer...,""" and gave up, hugging us instead. A spectre hung in the air. Everyone sensed the tears which welled in every eye. Words took on a sad note or ironic meaning. And then, in all the activity and frenetic excitement, amidst the well wishes, and clatter of dinner dishes, while presents were rip- ped open and children squealed in delight, something wonderful happened. We lost ourselves. The spirit of Christmas swept over us, and we were swept away in a tide of mirth. We made jokes, good and bad. We mocked our presents and laughed at past gifts, some silly, some extravagant, some cherished. And as we enjoyed ourselves, without guilt and sadness, I glanc- ed over to my mother, her gifts in her lap. And I saw her eyes, clear and happy, without a trace of any expected tear. She was watching her grandchildren playing with their booty. My mother had the only present she probably had wanted - a nor- mal Christmas, without the wallowing and fuss over her. And when she died early that March, and we placed her into the frozen ground with that locket I had troubled so much over, it was without sadness or guilt. Because that was the way my mother would have wanted it. Dear Santa I would really like it if you tryed to find some of theese toys listed. 1. Computer with disk; 2. Super Mario 3 cartreg; 3. Ninga Turtle sewers; 4. Ninga Tutle Pizza throer; 5. Shredder; 6. Wacky- wind-up Splinter. Thanks again, Love from Sincerely, Christopher TE Warmest Season's Greetings from all the people at Philp Pontiac Buick Limited.