Christmas: Feasts and Memories

One wintry afternoon at Le Napoleon, Alain Daniel's charming, rustic restaurant on Hamilton Street, someone ordering the dessert known as boule de neige. The waiter--was it Hubert?--standing on the snowy deck calling back "Une vrai boule de neige?"

Bill Bellman, remembering a weekend furlough from the Canadian Army during World War Two--it might have been during the Christmas season--when all he had to feast on was a packet of Planters Peanuts. Years later, at CHQM, directing the assembling of Christmas baskets for the staff, which would include almond-stuffed olives in sherry, Molly O'Rourke's Irish Whisky fruitcake, and all manner of good things, among them, always, a red Bordeaux, a white Burgundy, a sparkling wine and a liqueur.

College students in The Snug at Victoria's Oak Bay Beach Hotel, singing slightly tipsy Chrismas carols.

Chez Victor, a day or two after the holidays had ended, three people at the counter in the tiny restaurant on Davie at Seymour--a deliveryman, a radio writer, and a motherly lady who must have worked in the neighborhood, as she lunched there regularly. Victor bringing out, as a gift, bowls of an elegantly composed fruit salad in Cointreau.

New Year's morning in the almost empty restaurant at Frank Baker's Georgian Towers, being served by the lone waitress, a Scot with a blinding hangover. Remembering Jack Wasserman's line: "It's better to have a morning after than never to have a night before."

To all, wherever they now may be, fond wishes.