Great piece Don, and did parts of it ever resonate. We grew up not far from New Waterford, in Glace Bay, where at the time my father was a coal miner as was his father. And what you say about nicknames sticking rang so true as well. Because my grandfather once mispronounced "squeeks" as "squix", as in complaining that his car had too many squix, our branch of Matheson's became known as the Squix Matheson's. Midnight Mass was always a tradition for us, but while we never followed it with a wee hours meal, your essay was a treat in that for me, so much of it sounded so familiar. Merry Christmas.
What a lovely read on Christmas Eve Dan. Thank you and happy holidays.
I So love reading this family story !!! Thank You
MERRY CHRISTMAS and all the best for 2024 .
Great piece Don, and did parts of it ever resonate. We grew up not far from New Waterford, in Glace Bay, where at the time my father was a coal miner as was his father. And what you say about nicknames sticking rang so true as well. Because my grandfather once mispronounced "squeeks" as "squix", as in complaining that his car had too many squix, our branch of Matheson's became known as the Squix Matheson's. Midnight Mass was always a tradition for us, but while we never followed it with a wee hours meal, your essay was a treat in that for me, so much of it sounded so familiar. Merry Christmas.
What a lovely family story! Happy New Year.