\nThere was a time before I had kids when life was unstructured. When I wasn’t working or working on an assignment, the day was open.<\/p>\n
\nThe holidays, back then, were kind of cool, but not for family reasons. There was a cool vibe about the holiday season which probably arose from a feeling of comradery: everyone agreed it was time to have fun. So it was.<\/p>\n
One Christmas Eve, my friend and I left town for a day hike. It was on the South Island, so there wasn’t snow in town. However, there may’ve been a dusting in the logging roads. I was the passenger; my friend drove, as always. We talked, at first, about what our families might be doing for Christmas. They’d all moved to other towns; we neither would be seeing ours over the holidays. Yet, we’d been friends for a decade; in a way, we were family. It was good enough for us.<\/p>\n
\nWe parked and began the hike. It was a beautiful sunny day, still with its morning crispness. We started on a known trail, then took one less familiar, finally branching to one we’d never taken. We were fit, in our 20s: we didn’t worry about getting lost or hurt. We just wanted to explore somewhere new, like people always do. (Spoiler alert: we never did get lost or hurt, and not on this day, either.)<\/p>\n
\nOur conversation changed to more immediate matters – about everyday life, as well as what we saw on the trail. Luckily, no people seemed about. We entertained ideas about why this trail was less popular than some, and so on.<\/p>\n
Eventually, we began to talk about where life might take us and our friends, and why. It was always my favourite part of such an outing, but you couldn’t get to that conversation without an hour or two of background. Our minds would finally synchronize enough to bring forth ideas we harboured that were yet prototypical. Our long-standing friendship enabled a blurring of time so we could talk about events five years ago, then possible ones next year, as linked and even back-linked.<\/p>\n
By mid-afternoon, the sun gained enough power to warm your face. Yet, soon after, it set, since a steep mountain stood west of us. We realized we had to return, and so started back.<\/p>\n
Every year, back then, was different from the last. I recall wondering, that afternoon, if we should do something to acknowledge Christmas. Yet, our conversation was good, so I didn’t want to change the subject. We eventually gained the car: by then, the sun was setting everywhere. Headlights on, my friend easily navigated out of the woods, then to the paved road. We headed towards civilization. The road widened into multiple lanes. Stopped at intersections we beheld cars returning from town or going out to parties. Back from the highway, houses sported Christmas displays. It was exciting. I recall thinking we’d pick up some pizzas, return to his apartment, and check what our women were doing.<\/p>\n
We stopped for gas just before re-entering the city: the gas was cheaper at this place, and very convenient to get there, since it was such a big station. Having filled up, we drove the car to a parking spot, then, as always, we went inside to pick up coffees.<\/p>\n
It was one of those evenings in Victoria after a really nice winter day. The air was yet mild, but you could feel the temp dropping. Above, the stars were coming out. We stood with our coffees taking it all in, when someone drove up next to us.<\/p>\n
“Hey, guys…it’s Christmas!” some voices bantered cheerfully from inside the car. They were kids, probably just 19 or 20, on their way to town. We raised our coffees and toasted them: “Merry Christmas,” we cheered. We watched as they drove from the parking lot, entered the side road, then took the wide left heading to town.<\/p>\n
Months later, I recognized that car near a beach. Its occupants were all in sunglasses and had bare arms; a dance tune blared from its open windows. You could barely believe, in that moment, that the people in that car would remember Christmas.<\/p>\n
People like that live “in the moment,” as they say. I’ve always been impressed with people who can do that — I’m trying to learn. Therefore, in their words, “Hey, people…It’s Christmas:)”\n<\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about people and events from the past: the tutor shares a Christmas Eve story. There was a time before I had kids when life was unstructured. When I wasn’t working or working on an assignment, the day was open. …<\/p>\n