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Pa ge 8 T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 2 5, 2 01 4 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a sale RUNs sat Dec 27th 2014 to Jan 15th 2015 www.bathstudio.ca 332 Guelph Street, Georgetown (Across from Canadian Tire) 905-702-0885 Many More In-Store Specials! SINK + FAUCET $449 Padua Bari Jaspel ✶ K200S28 Amber ✶ K201S28 32 1/4"x 18 1/2"x 9" 32"x 20 3/4"x 9"Torino Faucet: • Solid brass construction • Finish: chrome polished • Ceramic cartridge • cUPC,AB1953, NSF certified • Pull out sprayer Sink: • Premium 304 stainless steel, 18 gauge • Fully undercoated and padded • cUPC Certified • 9" Depth • Satin matte finish • Strainers included FAUC ET PLUS A SIN K YOURCHOICE COMMENT Christmas is one of those times of the year when we accumulate memories. We remember the good and the bad-- those times when we lost a loved one, or, at the other end of the scale, those moments of joy. Last year's ice storm memories are deeply etched in our minds, and I'm sure most peo- ple will be reminded of that week as we cel- ebrate Christmas. Many have said last year's Christmas was spoiled by the storm, as limbs and trees col- lapsed around us. Some left town to bunk with family, while others stayed home to tough it out. The Sidekick and I had no options. With a barn full of animals, we had to stay and watch over our flock. Like countless others, we got through sev- en days with no power. To maintain the power needs of the barn and two houses, I ran our tractor-driven generator at the barn to water the sheep, then moved to the farmhouse to run the furnace and water pump for a couple hours, then over to the second house to do the same. To add to the problem, the tractor couldn't be shut off for any length of time. Being a die- sel, if it got cold, there was nowhere to plug in the block heater. When Dec. 24 rolled around, we decided the Brown family Christmas would have to be cancelled or moved to another location. At home we established a routine to keep things running. We 'lived' in the living room, with the fireplace lit for some warmth. The tractor was fueled daily, to the tune of about $60 a day. Due to the power outage and ice, the Christmas Eve service at Limehouse was can- celled. My second daughter had power, so we dropped by for her annual Christmas Eve re- ception, then attended the Christmas Eve ser- vice at Knox. Driving home through that dark silent night of the rural areas, I thought of how peaceful it'd become. No traffic, no sounds, nothing to shatter that solitude. It was 'nice.'. We stoked up the fire in the living room, and I went outside to start the generator to warm the house a bit. Unknown to The Sidekick, I'd wired the Christmas tree into the circuit. As I flipped the breaker, the living room was bathed in the warmth of the tree lights. I entered the house, and found The Side- kick with tears running down her face. "Thank you," she said. "It's Christmas," I said, "We're entitled to be a bit frivolous. I'm gonna run the generator all night." Before the first light of Christmas morn- ing crept into the room, I lay there on the sofa, pondering Christmas. It was 6 a.m. Suddenly the tractor outside started to sputter and cough. In seconds we were once again bathed in silence-- no fuel. Cursing a bit, I grabbed a fuel can, knowing full well I had to bleed the fuel lines. A diesel won't run with air in the lines. Braving -16 Celsius temperature, The Side- kick holding a flashlight, I pumped that little primer with my bare hands. It wasn't my typical Christmas morning. But days later, as others complained how their Christmas had been 'ruined', I had to dis- agree. Christmas 2013 wasn't anything like previ- ous Christmases. It was stripped to the basics. But in doing so, it made us realize how pre- cious Christmas really is. This year, take a moment to reflect upon last year-- just a moment. Then immerse yourself into the glory and warmth of the sea- son. A Merry Christmas to all, and all the best in the coming year. A Ted Bit Only a year ago... By Ted Brown tedbit@hotmail.com