SC Rewind: A Christmas Message

Today's Rewind topic has become somewhat of an annual tradition. Robert Smith sends out his Christmas Message to the readers of Rewind and again reaches back into his memory bank for a tale from days gone by related to the holiday time of year.

It has been my pleasure and privilege for a number of years to author the weekly Rewind stories. As one who enjoys Christmas and the entire holiday season I always look forward to this annual column. It is frequently a bit different than the others, mainly because it is not all about horses but rather about the beautiful season we are now celebrating. This year thanks to the calendar, Christmas day has landed on a Saturday which of course is the usual Rewind day each week.

I suspect that no one needs to be reminded that our traditional celebration of Christmas has been a bit altered the last couple of years thanks to COVID. I think that makes one more reason to treasure our memories of days gone by and think back of all the times we have celebrated. From my experience, I feel as though each Christmas is much like all others, but also very special in its own way.

Each year I try to think of some old, perhaps almost silly little story that I recall from Christmases past; and every year I have to test my memory a little more. Here is this year's. I think I was in about grade three or four and our teacher announced a few weeks before Christmas that we would be picking names and exchanging gifts on the last day before the holidays. The idea sounded pretty good because what kid doesn't like to receive a gift?

The rules were pretty simple. Each student wrote their name on a slip of paper and put it in a container. If anyone got their own name of course you immediately turned it back. A spending limit which I am sure was no more than 50 cents was to be strictly adhered to. There was to be no telling of who's name you picked and above all, NO disclosure of the gift you purchased. Needless to say at that age no boy wanted to get a girl's name and probably vice versa although the girls tended to be much more polite even back then.

When the name picking took place you hoped for the best; maybe some one among your closest chums would be the one and you would know what they wanted. Well my worst fear was realized when I unfolded my little slip I had drawn the name "Eva". She was a new girl in our class who had just moved to the area and I had probably never spoken to her and certainly wouldn't know what to buy for her as a gift.

When I arrived at home that day I held the news until we sat down at the supper table. Guess who I got? and I disclosed the "good" news. My mother immediately said something like "That's nice, girls are a lot easier to buy for." She also disclosed that she would take me shopping one day very soon. Living in a small Town we didn't have a lot of options but everybody knew that the best place to buy anything was at the local Five & Dime as they were called back then. They had everything!

Once in the store and with me somewhat less than enthusiastic, the search began. I recall the store was staffed by some of the nicest ladies you could ever meet. They knew where everything was and provided expert advice no matter what the request. They also knew almost everyone that visited the store. I let my mother do the talking and soon we were at the area where their "exquisite" line of jewelry was located. In a fairly short time we were headed home with a small box that contained a locket and chain. I was relieved that this part was over.

When we returned home my older sister saw the locket and immediately was taken with it. All of a sudden her Christmas wish list had a new addition. She also quickly added "If the person at school doesn't like it, bring it home because I like it!"

Well, gift giving day soon arrived. The teacher appointed a few "elves" and the packages were handed out. In short order everyone was busy unwrapping and probably marveling at what they had received. One last order of business was announced and that involved thanking the person that gave you your gift. I have no idea what I received nor who gave it to me but I do remember the "thanks" that I received. Once the girl named Eva thanked me and said she liked it, I was again relieved. The urge to put my proverbial "foot in my mouth" thankfully went away and gave this little story a much happier ending.

In closing I would like to wish everyone in the Rewind audience the merriest of Christmases and the best of the coming New Year. My thanks to those of you who enjoy reading my tales of bygone days and for the many who send in comments or contact me personally. You folks make this all worthwhile. As I have done in previous years, I would also like to thank Standardbred Canada for making Rewind a regular feature of their website. Remembering our past is so important.

Quote For The Week: "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain

Who Is It?

Who in the reading audience can identify this once well known individual? He is no longer with us but is undoubtedly still remembered by many who knew him throughout his long and storied career. One clue; although he was a talented race driver in his early days he made his mark in other ways.

Who Else Is It?

Can you figure out the two fellows shown in this old photo?

A Blast From The Past

Since it's Christmas I decided to show this old ad from 1917. What young child of that era wouldn't love to own one of these great wagons? As kids my older brother and I had what we called "a rack wagon" (I guess because it had removable racks) and we hauled so much stuff with it that it eventually fell apart. Maybe it didn't last because it wasn't a Dan Patch model.

Be sure to stay tuned during the upcoming week to see the correct answers to this week's picture identities.

From Bygone Days

A young family perhaps heading out on Christmas day to visit family and friends

 

Just imagine what the streets of Montreal may have looked like a hundred years ago. Maybe this was taken on Christmas Day? (McCord Museum collection)

 

At one time Christmas cards were sent and received in abundance. Yes, even racetracks sent out cards to their customers and to the horse people who helped put on the show. The above card was sent out by the good folks at Connaught Park almost 60 years ago.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!