You see, my dad was the Press Room Foreman at the Daily Herald and co-chaired the Social Club. He was in charge of organizing the children's Christmas party. A few days before the big event, Dad would bring presents home, on Mr. Clauses behalf, to hand out to the kids. They'd be from The Bay and would be wrapped in festive wrapping and bows. Ice cream cups would be picked up...you know the kind, with those little wooden spoons that even as an adult leave you with a dry taste in your mouth. The entertainment would be planned, and hamburgers ordered.
There was wild anticipation but there would always be a movie or two. The movies would be rented from the library and were the real kind of movies using a film projector. Every year, we'd watch the one about the Maple Leaf hockey sweater.
Then...
"I think I hear Santa coming!" Dad would say and sure enough the Big Man himself would start the jingling and Ho Ho Ho-ing as he entered the room. Santa would greet the kids and do the customary questions like whether we'd been good or not. Of course, we'd been good! Treat bags would be handed out containing bridge mixture, those little foiled bell chocolates and balls and of course candy canes. The most important would be the gifts because it was always something we really wanted. One of the last gifts I received was a large plush stuffed pink and white teddy bear. The kids would rip into their gifts and paper would fly as holiday chaos ensued.
Santa would make another round of greetings and he'd be gone.
We'd eat our burgers, fries and ice cream. Families would start leaving and after tidying up the Bridge Room we'd leave for home too. It was the best afternoon ever.
those were the best years ever .
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