Early to Timmins

Earlier this week, I realized I’d written Garbage on the date of December 25 on our paper calendar (yes, we still have a paper calendar).

Now, that wasn’t a reflection of my feelings about Christmas—at least not consciously! It’s just that Monday is our usual garbage pick-up day, and since they only accept trash bi-weekly (recycling and compost weekly), I put on the calendar which Mondays are the actual garbage pick-up days.

Only December 25 won’t be one of them. I’ll have to look up when they’ve moved that to. [Edit: That would be Tuesday, December 26.]

But December 25 is just a date, and you can choose to celebrate on other ones. Pre-2020, we almost always went to Timmins for actual Christmas, but also had our own Christmas celebration for two the weekend before that, complete with gifts and roast beast.

Post-2020, Jean can’t take extra vacation days right before or between Christmas and New Year’s, which makes it a bit tight to go north then. Last year I went to Timmins in earlier December with my sister; this year I did the same with Jean.

This timing has certain advantages: it’s a cheaper and less hectic time to travel, and your odds of getting decent weather are better. This approach hasn’t had time to earn the sheen of tradition, though, and for Jean especially, being the first Christmas-time(ish) in Timmins without having his Mom to visit was bittersweet. That sense was reinforced by sister France having to be out of town then, so he lost what would have been his natural alternative house to visit.

But, he did get together with his brothers and their wives/partners for dinner, and his sister Ginette drove down from Sudbury to join in as well. And he also enjoyed visiting with my family.

I should back-track and note that this trip was Jean’s first flight in a while, also. That part of it all went well. We were very proud of ourselves for having managed to pack only carry-on. We decided to book a taxi to the airport and back, instead of driving ourselves. We left on a Sunday afternoon flight, thereby avoiding the too-early (considering the drive and two hours prior recommended arrival) morning flight that would have been the only alternative.

When booking this trip, we found the fee to pick your seat higher than we expected. Jean then noticed that it was only about $6 more to get a “premium” seat. So we did that. In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess. Preferred seating doesn’t mean that much on these small planes that fly to Timmins—you’re at the front, with a bit more leg room. Still, it was kind of nice.

The completely full flight departed exactly on time, and ended up arriving early. Our return flight on Wednesday afternoon had a 15-minute delay, which was basically inconsequential.

And in between there were pretty relaxed days!

Sunday was the at-home celebration dinner for the birthdays of my Dad and my brother Neal . My niece Sarah-Simone also joined in the festivities. My nephew Caleb had hoped to join as well, but he’d unfortunately come down with a respiratory bug that he didn’t want to share with Grandpa. Nonetheless, that was a fun start to our visit.

Otherwise, we:

• Enjoyed more good family dinners (yes, we did some helping).
• Took a number of walks.
• Visited with our friends Sylvie and Paul, who are doing quite well.
• Purchased some ski boots at Porcupine Ski Runners. This came about after we’d informed Dad that we’d purchased some used cross-country skis and needed some boots for them. So happened that the club was having a used boot sale, and they had some in each our sizes. Good savings there, and we managed to get those into the carry-on also!
• Delivered and wrapped our presents for the pending McNair Christmas day gift exchange.
• Saw a lynx in Dad’s yard!

“Actual” Christmas should be just as relaxed, with plans of Zoom Christmas morning, some visits with friends, and various special meals for two.

Season’s greetings, all!