T'was the night before Christmas and all through the BC Hockey League not a team was stirring, not even a broadcaster; except maybe this one trying to come up with a cute Christmas blog. Even now while trying to relay this to you, I could not tell you if it was going to parody the entire classic penned by Clement Clarke Moore or not.
Instead I must rely on the tried and true and send out my wishes to you and yours to have a very Merry Christmas and to enjoy this special time of year. Players, coaches and the oft forgot volunteers, get to go home and be with their family and friends. It’s a time when foes on the ice waste little time after the game to shake hands and pass along well wishes.
I saw it in four rinks this past weekend and was touched that there truly is still a human connection out there in a world that seems to have grown cold and distant. A time when differences are set aside and people rally to find a bond with a stranger or forgotten friend.
That is where the true Spirit of Christmas comes from; not from the greed of stuffing cash registers or seeing endless gifts pouring out from underneath a Christmas tree. It's the little phone call or text message, the Christmas card in the mail or even the moment to stop and reflect with somebody you haven't seen since the last accidental run-in at the mall.
Christmas is found in the wide-eyed amazement of the little ones when they ooh and ahh at the pretty lights. It's the warm hellos and warmer embraces of family members greeting each other after a long journey. It's the sharing of homes and meals and it’s the laughing that comes from reminiscing. It's the continuation of family traditions and the creation of new memories.
Take a moment to remember your favourite Christmas memory and share it with someone special. I have many, but now that my dad isn't here anymore I know now how much I miss seeing his big smile every Christmas when he got his special gift.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Ron Gallo, the voice of the Prince George Spruce Kings, will be blogging the Interior Conference during the 2008/09 season. Check back often for Ron's insights into the latest news from the BCHL's Okanagan and Northern-based teams.
