Dear Reader
Every month before we start a new publication there is one
question that is paramount in our minds: What do we put onto the
front page? What echoes our lives in our community, what is
either important enough or aesthetic enough to warrant a front
page?
October had lots of important events. The German National
Holiday celebration (last issue), the Flag Raising Event at
Queen’s Park and the celebrations of German Pioneers Day in
Kitchener all had a high profile, the Austrian National Holiday,
but in the end it was Mother Nature that won out over our human
endeavours. Our front page was taken on the estate of the Szauter
family in King Township and exemplifies the glorious autumn we
are experiencing. We hope that his autumn image mirrors some of
your feelings about the season.
Lack of rain and moderate temperatures allows nature to bow out
gracefully and slowly, wooing us with a symphony of colours. We
are having the kind of fall that makes poets swoon with romantic
notions, children delight in the rustling sounds of fallen
leaves, and we all step out more often and longer to walk in the
cool mildness of a golden sun, breathing an aromatic air full of
the fragrances of harvest’s bounty, while Geraniums spend their
last fiery glow.
It is also a time to prepare for winter, as squirrels and birds
are signalling to us. Flocking and hording become hectic
activities, allowing interesting observations to spur us to
contribute to the game.
We put up a new birdhouse that is squirrel proof and delight now
in the visits of a variety of colourful birds, large and small,
populating our garden, especially since I saved a few huge
evergreen branches from a zealous pruner, and fastened them
around the bird feeder. A few of the squirrels cannot resist
taking a nut from my fingers. Their instinct to collect all they
can get is stronger than their fear. Our resident raccoon is no
more. We found it lying sleeplike but lifeless in the lane the
other day. I hope for another arrival latest next spring.
 Halloween was really nice this year. The children and their
parents came out in droves and showed extremely good creatively
in the choice of costumes. Not all disguises are bought; a lot
of them are homemade. Girls at around the age of 8-11 appeared
to prefer a rock star look with long blond tresses and tight
jeans, while boys showed up in daddy’s altered clothes, looking
dapper with a top hat. There were of course ghosts and witches,
angels, butterflies and fairies, but we felt for a little 2-year
old, whose mommy had strapped him into a choochoo train. He
looked adorable, but could hardly walk, but did not seem to mind
at all.
The bowl with the many treats was all too quickly empty and we
turned out the lights outside in the house to signal that we
were done. However, a huge pumpkin with a long lasting light was
still glowing in the high prairie grasses on the front lawn for
long into the night.
With Thanksgiving and Halloween behind us we can now officially
turn towards the next big seasonal event, which is of course, do
I dare say it, Christmas. The seasonal concerts and parties will
delight us, as will the Christmas Markets, of which we have two
left in our midst that we know of. The others, like so many
things, died a quiet death. Money will be spent, but perhaps a
bit more cautiously. If you are like we are, then that is just
fine. After all, we get the things we need when we need them,
not at Christmas, and otherwise there is little left that we
fancy. Good times with friends are paramount on our list this
year as any year. I am already spying where I will get my goose
from and all the other trimmings. As far as I am concerned, we
can go back to the times after WWII: a plate full of sweet
treats and fruit, a good book and a god bottle besides the new
socks or tie.
Of course there will always be those things we do just because
we like to have a secret or two. It is all part of the rituals
of Christmas. Hiding a present and rapping it up pretty and then
presenting it is a nice activity I would not want to rob anyone
of.
And while we are doing all those things for ourselves, let us
not forget some of the less fortunate people among us, like some
of our elders or children, even if they are not our own. There
is great satisfaction in helping others.
I hope to see you around at the various events.
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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