PAGE 22, WITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAYý, DECMBER 12, 1990 Christmas tiouchés every one ByJil Mlntoeh Once again the holiday season is upon us, and as usual Pm in fuil swing. The presents are wrapped, the carrot pudding is .baked and the house is decorated. Yet I foilow no religion. A lot of people ask me how I can celebrate Christmas if I arn not a Christian. My immediate answer is the textbook variety. No one has ever proven when Christ's birthdlay rea]ly happened, and most of the rituals - the tree, the feast, the Êgifts - are not Christian in origin. But given the time I can give my real answer. FENNELL INSURANCE BROKERS LTD). SINGE 1954 WI-ITBY 666m2400 AJAX 427-6468 Spruce Villa Hotel Please Don't Drink & Drive 734 Dundas W. Whitby 668-3386 STAFFORD MONUMENTS A Faxnily Business for Six Generations 318 Dundas St. E. WHITBY 668-3552 SPACE AGE SHELVING 80-THICKSON RD..S. Thickson Place Plaza WHITBY. 430-1636 A confirmed winter-hater, I need something to get me through the long, bleak days. Evenings spent listening to carols, sipping hot cider, niake the snowdrifts bearable for me. I love the bright papers and the cheery bows. I love the reflections the coloredlights make on the snow.- I love the emeil of Yule logs, of cookies in the oven and plum puddings steaming on the stove. I loegh day with my fainily, since we ail too rarely gather at once. I look forward to our annual open bouse, to the days of baking beforehand, the chaos of the day itself. People end up standing in Serving the Community since 1977 300 Beech St. W. Whitby e 666-1464 the hallway and it axnazes nie that we know so many people - or is our hous just that sniall? I love the traditional Christmas carols. I' don't believe in the messg they convey, but the melodies are so pretty. They would be uplifting even without th look forward to a German Christmas Eve with niy husband's family, and a Christmas Day celebration with my own. And without fail I wait for niidnight on Christmas Eve, which is the only finie to watch Alastair Sim become the perfect Serooge. BELL & BOWMAN TAXI Fast, Courteous 24-Hour Service PO BOX 424 WH ITBY 668-8888 668-3333 And the treet Its earthy scent filse the house, strung with popcorn and cranberries and china balls (the unbreakable ones on the bottom, since this is a house with a cat!). But ail of that pales beside the feeling this time of year. People seem to open their hearts to others. The dloser it gets, the more strangers nod or say hello. They open doors for package- laden shoppers. They drop coins in the poorbox. For an all-too-brief moment, it's as if people put aside the rest of the year and open themselves to the warm feeling - indeed, the glow! - that makes Christmas- Supreme Furniture B-1916 Dundas Street E.Whitby Art Carriere 432-3980 Custom time so special. That is something that no one can dlaim expressly for their own. No Christian, no Jew, no Buddhist, no Hlindu can lay hands on it alone. It belongs to the. world at this time, to everyone no matter what their faith, their creed, their country of origin or their adopted home. That is why I celebrate Christmas even though 1 am not a Christian. I don't have to be. For that brief moment it reaches out and touches everyone and I amn more than happy to be swept up in it. GENERAL CONTRACTORS Be smartl Don't drink & drive. il Stanley Crt., Units 9 & 10 Whltby - 430-3477 Fax. 430-7250 Ans. Serv. 436-3477 1801 Dundas St. WHITBY (K MART PLAZA) 723-w4538 Mr. Kools So ae. y Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. FREE TAXI SERVICE 926 Simcoe St, N. Oshawa S576-9226,. 5000 Halls Rd. Whitby Brooklin 655-3339 Ajax 686-3771 128 Brook St North Whitby 668-6666,." Have a Safe Chrstmas! 1621 McEwen Drive, Unit 6 Whitby e 436-5126 I Faxc: (410~)-436-5167.,_ F 668-5012 E. If you drink, please don't drive. 171 Brook St. N . Whîtby "%»Imi