Another year has come and gone. This past year was quite good to me with a bunch of great experiences and it was all capped off by another holiday season full of family and friends.
This year, my Christmas shopping was completed with only a day or two to spare. I didn’t mind actually because witnessing that mall in all its insane commercially driven holiday glory was almost laughable.
Then Christmas Day rolled around, and it was a fun-filled day that saw me get spoiled again, but more importantly a day in which sitting around sharing stories, Baileys and a mass amount of food with your family was priority No. 1.
I stayed up most of the night to watch our National Junior Hockey team take it to the Germans, but didn’t quite make it to the buzzer.
The following day, I ventured back into that mall for some Boxing Day madness. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, as you can get almost anything you need or want for a great price, if you are willing to wait in line.
I just enjoyed watching the madness of that mall again, one day removed from Christmas Day. We spend an entire month worrying about our spending, and ensuring we have covered everyone off our list for the sake of one day, and as soon as it’s over, we go back to the mall.
I did end up finding a neat video game for about 33 per cent off, so I guess it’s not half bad.
Then New Year’s Eve rolls around. This, in my opinion, is the only proper, non-commercially driven holiday during the Yuletide season.
There are no preparations to be made. There are no laundry list of gifts to be purchased. It’s simply an evening to celebrate another year down, and the next one to come.
In the world of newspapers there are not a lot of holidays that we can actually say we get a full day, or half day off. When the rest of the world gets a day off, typically there is a lot to be covered, and then shared in the following week’s City View.
I spent much of my day at the office, ironing out the details for this, the first paper of 2013. Once the afternoon was wrapped up, it was time to chase the various events happening in the city of Airdrie.
I made it to three events in the one evening.
We love our fireworks in Airdrie. Thousands came to Nose Creek Park, on a cool evening, to check out the 15-minute show.
I headed down about 45 minutes prior, to ensure that I spoke with the fire department about access. While waiting around, I got to speak with a number of folks I knew from my hockey days, or work.
Once the show started, it was time to work again. You can see the photos I made throughout this edition, but my favorite is on the front. A couple, framed by darkness, enjoying one final evening of 2012.
Then it was off to the next one. I attended the 2014 Alberta Summer Games New Year’s Eve fundraiser bash at the Rob Ebbesen Arena.
Again, there are no major preparations to do for this holiday. Except putting a tie on and dressing up to the nines.
Being relatively close to that committee, I had a great time. I was there to record the evening with a handful of photos, but my night was consumed with great stories from friends of the community. Oh and I danced too.
After that I was finally free to head to the big New Year’s Eve bash with all my own close friends. I made it there with 40 minutes to spare!
Good food, good people, good times.
I have made my decision. I love the holiday season, and while Christmas is great, its New Year’s Eve that makes up for the stresses of consumerism.
So, I hope you and yours had an incredible holiday season this year, and a great New Year’s, and all the best to you in 2013. Thank you for following along with my adventures.
I am sure there is plenty to share this year.
