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That old Christmassy feeling…

Dec 25, 2012 News

By Leonard Gildarie

As long as I can remember, Christmas has always been a most treasured occasion in Guyana.
It had not so much to do with the gifts, but more the family gatherings and the love and warmth of being there. It was a time to kick back and tell school and the boss to chill out…it is my time now.
Even while living in the islands for six years, I yearned to be back home. Christmas was missing something.The memories of getting that old Christmas tree from under the bed and the ‘caps gun’ and smell of balloons, as a little boy, was an important part of the season. The preparation and cleaning all led to the excitement.
Over the past few years, I have struggled with the changes of Christmas.
Every year, I hear the same things. How this is going to be a tough year…a tough Christmas, not enough money to spend.
Yet, every year around December, the shops are packed and Regent Street becomes a nightmare. Every year, despite complaints that sugar has done badly, people still find the money to spend on decorations, food and drinks.
I could not let this Christmas pass without making a public observation that I do believe that Christmas now can never be like ones 20 to 25 years ago.
I say this because I do believe that hardships of ‘70s and ‘80s would have brought more of an appreciation for the little that was there.
I know that the critics will be stringing me out for this. I could see Adam Harris nodding his head in agreement with me. He is my friend. He is always recalling this year and that and how good it was.
It’s not that I don’t like what I am seeing now.
Shopping is Guyana has become a challenge now because of the wide variety. Almost anything can found in the stores. Back in the older days, shopping was limited because of money and the variety to be had.
My dad died when I was six years old. It was hard on us. My family, with a new dad, moved away from Enmore in the early ‘80s and I guess those were the best Christmases.
We never did have enough. The years as a reporter have made me tough. I am not afraid or embarrassed to say now I grew up hard or admit that many a times I looked across at my neighbours and thought how fortunate they were. I know different now.
Sometimes we had no money to take transportation from the car park to Queen’s College.
My little brother, now a qualified technician with a multi-national company that has operations in Guyana, would most times join me in footing it to our schools. Sometimes our shoes were from neighbours and friends. I can recall occasions of not even taking lunch to school because of how hard it was.
I never blamed my parents or anyone. But it made me more determined not to allow my kids to go through that.
Christmases in the ‘80s for me were the best. The pepperpot and garlic pork and family gatherings were as warm as they could be. While we never really got what we wanted, we were contented.
The trek of the family to Enmore to the home of the grandparents for the annual get-together for the holidays was a must. That too is gone. My grandparents are no more.
That has all changed now. I will admit that it is hard to cope with a rapidly changing world.
I have barely managed to figure out how to use my BlackBerry smartphone. I recently got another phone and it was a shocking experience to say the least.
I don’t normally tolerate my six-year-old son to play video games too much. Right away, like a cowboy to a horse, he started playing games on the little phone.
He somehow figured out how to unlock it and turn on the radio. Being the technologically challenged person that I am, it is very hard to cope with the new dispensation.
No longer are toy trucks or remote controlled cars in demand. It is all about PS3s, iPhones, iPads and laptops. Clothes, parties, a new flat screen TV. The demands have all changed.
Somewhere in the mix…in the hassle to shop and dress the home…I have lost that old Christmassy feeling.
I hope Santa brings it back for me.

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