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Then there's the turk. For a number of years, this has been my baby, at our house. And when I've made the dressing, trussed the brute and stuck it in the oven, I feel something akin to the pure pride and joy of a woman who has produced a real Imhy. And you must admit you feel as though you‘d climbed Evor- est when you get that last pac- hage wrapped and sit back ad- miring your good taste in gifts, paper and ri“bons. When you sit down to write those cards, you discover that you still have a great affection for old friends you haven't soon for so long, and you wax quite lyri- cal. and ask them to visit you. Strmetimes, alas. they do. In addihon to these trappings. which mah, perfect ladies swear and strong men weep, there is the incredible 00mmercialization of the event, in every possible aspect. But don't blame that on others. You don't have to take part unless you want to. Admitting all this, there is a magic in Christmas, in the very word, that still holds up. There's a vast satisfaction for example, when you finally get the tree to stand up with no more than a 45-degree list, and it's all decor- ated, and you realize that, des, pite what your wife said, it's the best tree in town. There's the dam' tree to put up, the ridiculous cards to be sent to neighbors you saw yes- terday, the horrors of gift shop- ping, and the stupid bird to be stuffed, trussed, cooked and eat- Especially in these bracing northern elimes' is Christmas a necessity. It is cold, the nights are long, and the festival pro- vides a splash of color, warmth and love that enables us to face the dreaded long winter ahead. Oh, I'll admit it is a bit of a drag, in some ways. The gentle day of joy has become the focus for a multitude of irrelevancies. Think of what we'd be like if we didq't have the glory of Christmas to pull as out of the bleak, little lives of selfishness, misery and loneliness. At Home for Christmas As some brilliant clod once your kids rotten am pointed out, Christmas comes bot self in hock for once a year. And it's a jolly good Christmas, wouldn't 316 Marsland Dr., Waterloo Chatelaine Award Winning Builder Harold Lahn to-day __ 576-1560 lu-Slleil Homes ltd. For FR BE IN FORMATION QUALITY BUIlDERS Therekthe fun od spoiling CUSTOM HOMES SUGAR AND SPICE on Tho Listts.s,t Dmign! (‘nmplrm Costs Mortgage Aurungonwnts Building Locations Consult Wsthin 20 huh-s of K m-hc-nm rw.ald-I"l)0 by Bill Smiley of " may be a mess. because we fight a lot in our family. But not at Christmas time. May you all have the Christmas I hope we'll have. This year, we're having a quiet family Christmas, after many years of having a large, fairly noisy one. Hugh said he was com- ing home for Christmas, even if he was in Australia. And the opening of the pre- sents, after church. There's love in them. You realize this daugh- ter of yours tried to get some thing really special for her Dad. And this son of yours spent his last five bucks on a gift. Even though he'll beat you for ten be- fore the day is over. And noth- ing fits your wife, as usual. Then there's the church ser- vice, with its ancient, simple story, so familiar, so real because you‘ve known it all your life. And the postchurch salutations of "Merry Christmas," really meaning it. But perhaps the best thing about Christmas are the simple ones. There's the wonderful mo- ment of peace and quiet on Christmas Eve, when everything is done, and the stockings are hung and the fire murmurs and the tree, glows, and you talk warmly and lazily of Christmas Past and Christmas Present. your kids rotten and putting your. self in hock for six months. Christmas, wouldn't be the same if it didn't make you a little reck- A speedy» JESSIIPS cleaners KIYCHENER/WATE'LOO (IMIIED Kitchener Waterloo Ontario a Duke Sta. They foresee little likelihood of a reduction in claim costs and pin their hopes on holding down the number of aecidents per im sured vehicles for warding off future major increases in rates. The insurers Say they have been able generally to hold the line on rates because, while Claim costs have gone up, they have had to pay fewer claims in m- cent months. After rising steadily for sev- eral years, automobile insurance rates appear to be stabilizing at last. In fact, drivers in some parts of Canada may pay a little less in 1968. The January meeting will be addressed by Mrs. Arnold Schmn. a vice president of Ham. ilton CWL diocesan council. The OWL will hold a Valen- tine's dance at the Knights of Columbus hall on University Avenue East, Feb. IO. Car Insurance Rate Steadies Following the business meet- ing Mrs. C. F. Holland recited a humorous version of The Night Before antistmas. Rachel Fern- ando directed CWL members for commonity singing. Piano accom- paniment was Wided by Mrs. Adele Hone. Mrs. Alfred Logel gave a gas pel reading of the Christmas story when a tableau of the mam ger was presented. Miss Fernan- do sang Silent Night in German. Santa Claus (Mrs. Howard Schott) distributed gifts. Reliresh- ments were served by Mrs. An- tony Dietrich. CWL Unit Hears Songs By Children Anne Sulyma directed pupils of St. Michael's School when they sung u a recent meeting at St. Michael’- Catholic Women's The priests and nuns of the parish were presented with cheques by Mrs. Thomas Oberle. Waterloo Square Um cm, WM, M I, W "