Christmas in Carlow

The following document was typed on a vintage Underwood typewriter which was set up on the Jon MacDonald family table on Christmas Day. Several times throughout the day you could find someone click-clacking away on it, giving their opinion on the myriad of activities in the home. It is a short piece of family history, typed by several family members who came to visit at Jon & Alicia's house in Carlow, New Brunswick. (I have tried to remain as close to the original as possible, e.g., 'creative spelling').

Afton and Gram Deb decided this journalistic masterpiece should be entitled:

"CHRISTMAS IN CARLOW: The Melissa & Doug Christmas"*

(typed on a vintage Underwood typewriter which was set up on the table all Christmas day).

Afton: One Christmas, mostley ever-thing was Melissa & Doug.

Gram Deb: There were way too many presents to deal with that Christmas in Carlow. With papa sleeping in the chair, his kerchief covering his eyes, and Mommy making samosas on the stove, the air was filled with snores and samosa aromas.

Afton: Jack got bilding things, I got craft things, Ivy got learning things.

Gram Deb: Everyone was busy as a beaver, creating beautiful creations. Papa was building an electric dragster out of nuts, bolts and CDs. The snow lay like a blanket outside, covering Carlow with a winter wonderland. Natalie and Alicia were sautéing, cutting, creating samosas. Will they ever get done before Nat has to go to another party?

Afton: Oliver was in the high chair, and Croy just wock up.

Gram Deb: Jack finished his racer, and was driving it everywhere, making sure he kept it away from Baby Croy. Croy opened his Tonka fire trucks, complete with neon detour signs.

Gram Deb cried when she received her son’s gift to her: a handcrafted paddle made with care out in Santa’s Workshop. She was so blessed to receive this gift from her only son.

Afton: It was a $ for too strangers to come. [Editor’s note: Afton explained that this means that if people came to the house, they had to pay a dollar to come in. Although this never happened. LOL]

Jon: The gifts are plenty and the food is grand. Monkey bread, taco salad, samosas, candy, chocolate, pop, juice, cheese, slamon [‘salmon’], and much, much more!! A grand time to be had by all. Bodies of children strewn across the room in absolute uphoria [‘euphoria’] from all the gift giving. Parents llying [lying] around the room utterly unconscious from the strenuous effort of it all. Why? Why not? Oh how far down the tube of Christmas tradition we have come.

Gram Deb: I must go stuff samosas now.

Afton: Papa and Jack are playing with yo-yos.

Grammie Nancy: It all began early Christmas morning when we arrived, first being entertained by Mr. Bean. Then we started opening so many gifts that it was over whelming. It is in the year of our Lord 2011. The inlaws and outlaws are here as witnesses to all this fuss when actually we are here to celebrate the ultimate gift of our Lord Jesus. What a beautiful day with a little snow in the air which relieves one and all from the frigid temperatures. They had samosas without telling us so we get leftovers. Actually we shouldn’t eat anything because soon we will be all competing for the Santa job at Macy’s.

Alicia: It has been a day of fun and food. For instance, Ivy is here still asking for more sweets, especially the PC brand chocolates in their shiny luring packages. We have eaten a lot of strange things this season. In fact by far the weirdest food yet for a blistery Christmas day. Samosas, pie and shrimp and Dad’s fried potatoes. I love seeing the kiddies play with their new toys, and hop up and down over the promise of what their stockings hold from St. Nick. After all this fun… I believe that we ought to give the kids a nice Christmas soaking to wash off the day’s grime. Love and peace to all and to all a wonderful night of games around the fire.

[Christmas in Carlow participants: Jon, Alicia, Afton (6), Jack (5), Ivy (3), Croy (1), Grammie Nancy, Grampie Greg, Gram Deb, Papa, Natalie, Shawn, Oliver (1)]

(Editor’s Notes: We also went to Florenceville Baptist Church on Christmas morning, went sliding outside on the Carlow hill, and played Quelf Jr. as a family. After the kids went to bed, we settled down on our couches and listened to the fire crackle and “The Shepherd” on CBC radio. A very interesting and heartwarming day with family. We wish Josh, Natalie, Aiden and Sarah could have been here with us, too. Granny and Jed, too. Boo hoo. Oh well, there's always next year, right?)

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CARLOW! (wherever that is)


*Melissa & Doug is a top quality childrens' toy-making company