I'm sitting at the dining room table watching flakes of snow slant past the red tree, the bird feeder, the plum tree and the Brandon cedars. Gradually they gather in all the small crotches. It's a white and peaceful sight. I feel quietly happy after celebrating a family Christmas yesterday with Jay, May and the girls. I went there around 9. May put on "Frozen," the movie we watched last Christmas morning when we all lived together. I liked the opening music and some of the scenes I saw, but as I was making breakfast, I missed most of it. This year Jay and May made breakfast and I watched the whole thing. It's a touching, funny cartoon about two sisters, strange powers and true love. The breakfast was delicious; Jay's baked bacon was even better than mom's used to be. Then we opened gifts in order according to who won the up/down show of hands and/or paper, sissors, rock game. That was a laugh. I got the promised iPhone to replace Jay the thumb; now I have to get a plan and learn how to use it. Either Jay or May will help me with that next week. Next we watched "Home Alone 2," which I had never seen before. Then I went home alone to prepare for dinner. As I didn't have much work left to do, I went for a walk in Polson Park, inspired by the second movie, to see the pigeons. As always the pool in the park was noisy with ducks and the sidewalk around it was a waddling carpet of ducks and pecking pigeons. The kids helped with final preparations for dinner, and we sat around after in the living room talking and looking at the lights on the tree and the fire in the fireplace. It was a peaceful, quiet moment in a year that has had its successes and difficulties, to paraphrase Walter Cronkite, "a year like all years, and we were there," as we will be in 2017, if the good lord's willing and the creek don't rise.
Today began with a phone call from Lisa Van de Vyvere informing me of her mother Peg's death. While we were happy in each other's company yesterday, Bert's branch of the family was gathered sadly together for Peg's last moments. She died just after noon. Last Sunday, I visited Bert and Peg for the first time since before I went to Vietnam. I had wanted to see their new home and take them Mark's honey that Cathy had sent via me as well as some Christmas things for them from us. I was shocked by their appearance. They were both incredibly thin and weak looking. Peg was coughing terribly and not talking much. Bert also seemed distracted. I stayed over an hour, and we talked quite a bit although I did most of it. I left feeling upset and not knowing what I would say to Jean, Peg's mom, when I phoned her the next day. As it turned out I didn't have to; she phoned me to tell me that about an hour after I left, Bert fell, Peg called the ambulance and the first responders took them both to the hospital. Bert is still there. Peg had been moved to a care facility but was returned to the hospital on Christmas Eve. She died there on Christmas Day. Her funeral will probably be on Friday; Jay and I will go.
The snow is still falling. It looks as if it might be shovel ready by the time I get home from dinner at Miriam and Bill's tonight. Jay has done most to the shovelling so far, but he'll be working tomorrow. He even worked a bit today. There has been a lot of winter flooding in Vernon.
Boxing Day 2016
The girls of Christmas
The parents
