SNOWFLAKES SOFTLY
falling. Imaginary or real, But
seen... Winter landscapes.
Crackling log. fires. Frost-

nipped cheeks..Woolen toques
and scarves. Hot chocolate.

By Norm Severud
Contributing Writer

~ Red, Green. . Bright tinsel,
Twinkling lights. Ribbons. Bows,
And wrapping paper gaily decorat-
edi...

Turkey, hot and juicy from the
‘oven, filled with pungent dressing:
Cranberries, Plump plum pudding
‘with brandy sauce burning a bright

“blue flame. ; .

And that face. That white-
whiskered, timeless ‘face, with his
twinkling eyes, chubby, | pink-

-* brushed cheeks, and ready smile.
.. It's that time. The time of univer-
sal joy, laughter, good cheer, fellow-

‘ship, goodwill, and plenty. Or is it? -

“For some this is sadly a time of

sorrow, pain, heartbreak, hunger, ’

foneliness, and want.

“In the, hustle and bustle of this
“busiest of all holiday seasons, it is
all too easy to forget or overlook the
others. The. others, there,
you. In the crowd, but alone.

"And it'does ‘net’ matter how’ or.
7 why, It simply i is. And that i is all we ,

; need to know:
n this ‘time of giving and receiv-
ng, let us not forget the others, our
~friends,-our neighbors, our families
forgotten, and the strangers ‘we
‘might never meet.’A friendly smile
is fine. A’start, With a hearty hello,
and a cheery greeting. But is that
enough? No, it is not...
__» -This is my Christmas wish: that
- each and every one of you reading
‘these words will support, wherever
you live, and as'best you can, “your
local Christmas fund.
“i Does ‘it really matter? Will. it
‘make a difference? You bet it will!
And: 1 know. :I speak :from experi-
nce. ] was an other... °°
‘I doubt if but a few people ever
feel comfortable’i in accepting chari-
: ty, of any kind’at any time. Perhaps
“it becomes a little easier in exten-
sions Perhaps even the norm for the
oo few. wes
: But most of us will never. know.
cs Never have that experience. Never
* feel the pain. The gut-aching shame
“Of need and surrender. ;

among -

ly im mee

But let me tell you that first
Santa Claus Fund package brought
me so much joy, I cannot describe it
to you, no matter how hard I try. if

you've never had the experience, -

you cannot. know, and you'll just
have to take my word for it,
} was out of hospital, recovering

at home, out of work and short of

funds some years ago when that first
parcel arrived at my door in the
arms of a smiling young man.

A cardboard = box. — Plain.
Unwrapped. Ordinary, But not.
Something more. Something spe-
cial. Waiting.

{set iCon my kitchen counter and
stared at it for what seemed like sev-
eral minutes. As I stood there, trans-
fixed, [ felt the joy of the season

Spread. throughout’ my — body,
enveloping it like a warm blanket.
| This feeling of joy increased
even more us | tore open the top and
began pulling ‘out the contents, one
by one. Each item, though not
wrapped or ribboned, was a separate
-present from within, a gift in itself,
and f can truly say 1 felt a direct and
personal contact there and then with
each and every piver,

There were some familiar items,
and some not. All were welcome.
And needed. And the special treats

* brought with them an added feeling

-of joy.and pleasure. A bag of can-

. dies, A small Christmas cake. A box
. OF chocolates,”

«I'm not: ashamed to say 1 was
almost moved to tears.

That plain cardboard box, filled
with foodstuffs, and about the only
gift { would receive that year, was

- one of the nicest Christmas presents

I had ever received. And certainly
one of the most welcome. —

So open up your hearts this holi-
day. Your gifts, however simple,

wiil indeed make a difference. A big -
". difference! They will bring the spir-

_it of Christmas, the feeling of shared
happiness and joy, to whomever will
receive them.

And belicve me, I know.

Support your Christmas fund.
And. have yourselves a very Merry
Christmas. ;

Drop-off boxes for non-perish-
able food, new toys and cash ‘are
located across the North Shore.
Donations should be made as soon
as possible to the North Vancouver
Christmas Bureau, 984-9627, or the
West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund,

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