With a healthy twenty-three in attendance, President Paul kicked off our well attended first ever Zoom Christmas party, with Elaine Zakreski delivering a most thoughtful blessing very suitable to the times. Welcome back Elaine. We all hope to see more of your shining face and spirit in the months to come.
Gary R., sporting a quite jaunty Santa cap and a newly sprouted, dashing goatee introduced Betty Anne Arscott, a member of the Nutana Club and a RAP Board member. She is also Will’s (much much) better-half.
Betty Anne opened the entertainment to our troops with a very professional piano rendition of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” to get us into the Holiday spirit.
HAPPY AND SAD DOLLARS
- Claire – For his upcoming move to Park View, a very nice establishment. He reports that their Condo has not yet sold and while looking forward to his new location, he is a bit sad to be leaving his nice Condo building and neighborhood
- Steve – For a blessed new family addition. On December 4th his grandson Cleadon was born and Steve clearly is a very proud Grandpa
- Elaine - $62 For recent collections towards the Hope for Malawi project. She recounted how earlier that day alone she had received a hefty $500 donation from a single individual towards this very worthy cause. She offered a big “thank you” to this party as well as all past contributors
- Peter W. – For best 84th Birthday wishes to Gord M., who was also on the call, giving Peter a big “thumbs-up”. It turns out Peter is also 84, but nine months older than Gord.
- Avis - $5 for developing newly found Zoom skills this year and for looking forward to a heathy and enjoyable 2021
- Graham - $50 Happy Dollars for the new vaccine, for no illness within his family and the Club, for finding a non-contact delivered cut tree, for the mildness of symptoms experienced by two infected family friends, but also a bit sad in that his kids won’t be coming for Christmas
- Michael L. – $5 for his thankfulness that his son is now out of danger and home following a rare and very severe skin disease that flared up recently landing him in hospital for three weeks
- Jack - $5 for a recent pleasant stay at his family cabin at Christopher Lake, followed by $68 Birthday dollars to celebrate his recent acquisition of this youthful age, which I’m told is the new 40
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Paul reported on the status of the Bethany Homes project, indicating that recent member donations added $630 to the fund that now totals $1,130. Arrangements are underway to deliver these funds to the Organization before Christmas.
Donna G. made a pitch to the members to acquire their Christmas Grocery Cards, either for themselves or as gifts. There then followed quick take up of her offer by Claire , Peter V., Prem, Graham and others, so fast that your Editor could not accurately capture all the names (sorry folks). The entire Club could all see what a super job you are doing Donna in so competently leading this very important Club fund raiser.
Paul reported that the next Board meeting will be held Wednesday, December 16th, 2020 at 8AM (Good Grief- is that really a time of day?) via Zoom.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Betty Anne jump started the Party with an excellent performance of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” followed by a hopping “Santa Claus is coming to Town”, used to usher in Old Saint Nick himself (Who looked very suspiciously like a mild mannered accountant - Hmm.)
Santa was a bit grumpy about the “Covid 19” he had packed on this year, but then cheered up and challenged the members to share their favorite Christmas presents of yore.
Elaine shared that she had once received a gift flight on a vintage Tiger Moth aircraft, which she described as “thrilling”. So much so that she purchased rides for her kids this Christmas.
Gary demonstrated a butter crock he had once received to keep the butter soft. He has bought a number of these on-line for his children this Christmas. Graham mentioned that Darcelle tells him the Hand Made House pottery shop on Broadway carries these items made by local artists, for those who want to support local businesses and potters.
Graham spoke of his and Darcelle’s late dog Spike, a surprise gift to their kids many years ago. A Schnauzer crossed with a Norfolk terrier, he sported a huge handlebar mustache and exhibited comic doggy character.
Paul’s first transistor radio was a favorite gift for him one Christmas. As a young man he spent many happy hours listening to this device while driving the grain truck during harvest. Santa piped up that he too listened to his transistor while on the tractor but had to wire it to his head in order to hear it over the exhaust note.
Elaine warmly reminisced about the Hope for Malawi Clinic in Africa as a gift that her late husband Peter had presented to her and about which they were jointly passionate over many, many years. Santa aptly described Peter as a Rotarian with a huge heart.
Peter W. showed off the really cool Hover Stars his Grandkids will be receiving this year. Engineered with the latest Drone technology, these prop powered crafts can be navigated with hand motions instead of the standard joystick remote. Peter said he found these at Costco.
Graham revealed that tomorrow would be he and Darcelle’s thirty-sixth wedding anniversary, a pretty darned good Christmas gift. (The accountants in the Zoom Room will no doubt appreciate the clever significance of a December 15th wedding date back in the day.) Graham joked that it felt like “sixty-six years”, triggering an icily hostile stare from you-know-who, sitting nearby. Uh oh…
Elaine was grateful that her Brother-in-law and his spouse, who both contracted Covid, have now recovered and are feeling much better.
Al M. imparted a frightening story concerning his first wife who also developed Covid three weeks ago and who was placed in an induced coma. Thankfully he reports that she is now out of hospital and recovering at home.
Will A. spoke of two of his clients, one in his mid-fifties, who became infected. While they have recovered, they apparently are suffering some after-effects from the disease.
Santa divulged that thankfully he had no cases at his workshop, and requires that he and the elves always mask up. Mrs. Clause says she does find the masks somewhat claustrophobic. His Reindeer fortunately are all healthy and are not required to wear masks at all. Avis then jumped in and extemporaneously nailed it by explaining that the reason for Reindeers’ good health was that they all had “Herd Immunity”. (Groan – welcome to the “Dad Club” Avis)
Drew voiced his love of his 1958 Roy Rogers lunch pail, featuring Roy, Dale Evans and Trigger. Taking it to school immediately launched him into the “Cool kid” category. (I’m sure he was still cool before) Speaking of Cool, this piece of memorabilia is now worth a cool $380 on Ebay.
Santa enquired about any Staycation plans and offered that the Moose Jaw Spa and tourist attractions or the Regina Museum might be excellent choices.
Paul and Donna are celebrating the “twelve days of Christmas” by delivering gift packages to the kids and grandkids, which have so far consisted of things like oranges, candy kisses and a ham dinner. (Santa not to subtly tacked on an order for pierogis and kielbasa)
Peter V. is working with his kids, whipping up hand-made Christmas Cards for the Macoun Seniors Center. Santa applauded these efforts and encouraged all to be charitable this Christmas with time, love and money.
Gary R. quizzed the group on the CrossWord clue of the day. “Unscrupulously concocted”…answer: “Trumped up”. Gads – what a crowd.
Graham enquired of St. Nick re the logistics of keeping the vaccine at -70C in his sleigh while delivering on Christmas Eve, and whether his age of 900 years old entitled him to front of the line status. Santa politely demurred, gallantly declaring that he would let the 800 year olds go first.
Paul wrapped things up with a special thanks to Santa, assuring him that Donna’s patented butter tarts were on their way. Santa was wistful in the hopes that they might contain raisins, whilst Will offered up that frozen Nanaimo bars were far superior. (Hint, hint Betty Anne)
President Paul also gave a big shout out to Betty Anne for the outstanding entertainment and to the Zoom meeting team including Donna, Wayne P., Wayne S., Elaine, Gary R. and Graham.
In closing your humble Editor, via certain secret back channels with the Union President of the Santa’s Elves Local 101 was informed of the following. Allegedly last year after a successful Christmas Eve run, Santa tromped into his North Pole home with Reindeer dung on his boots, to which Mrs. Clause railed “Honestly Santa, sometimes you are simply (pause)…unbelievable”! (Ho ho - See what she did there? …yeah, it’s plagiarized.)
Merry Christmas to all, and have a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Editor Graham
