One of my earliest memories of the holiday season was on a post-holiday shopping trip to the States, big surprise there, for those who know me!  I remember seeing this billboard that said,  “War is Over  (If You Want It).”  It struck me as strange, up until then my knowledge of billboards were about selling things, back then it was booze and smokes, times have changed!  I thought what’s this about, selling Peace?  It stuck with me.  As we all know now, this was John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s holiday gift to the world in December of 1969.

For whatever reason I thought of this recently, perhaps because of thinking about the season, or thinking about my favourite holiday song, written by John Lennon.

“So this is Xmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun”

So its’ been another year and what have we done?  This has caused me to reflect back on Holidays past, many of them spent at work in the Community Living field.

When I think of the holidays at work, I think of the many sing alongs we had by the fireplace at one of the homes, until I was told by a person served “ turn it down, it hurts my ears”!  Or the time I was asked if I had seen a guy in a red suit run through the house while I was doing an Overnight shift on Christmas Eve.  Or seeing the happiness of persons served over some magically filled stockings on Christmas Day and being told, “Santa Claus, he knows me!”  There were also the times I worked New Years Eves, filled with lots of munchies, music and watching the ball drop on Times Square.

Also, there have been those moments when there was a chair not occupied. A space around the table, that was now empty.  It has become a time to also reflect in loss, and in memories of once what was.  And a time for hope, hope that the year to come will be better than the one that is about to pass.

These days, it’s time to enjoy parties at our residences, staff get-togethers and time with family. I look forward to seeing the glow and excitement in my children’s’ eyes as we light candles and celebrate the season.

But I can’t help but think back to spending those holiday moments with our persons served and co-workers and reflecting on those memories. 

What ever you celebrate this season, wishing you and yours a happy one and if you are working, thanks and look for those magic moments, they may be right in front of you and reflect.  Also remember, War is Over  (If You Want It), Imagine Peace.

Rob Pretli
Team Leader