WOW…it is over…

…the old year that is. For many it is an opportunity to look forward, for others it may not be!

Since food is what keeps body and soul together I want to shed some light on nutrition: The first food item I ate in this New Year 2010 was a bowl of goulash soup – and so did many of the other guests attending the fabulous New Year’s Gala at the Donauschwaben Klub in Scarborough - after a champagne toast at midnight. What led up to it still in the old year was a glorious and elegant affair.

It started out with Tropical Fruit Punches served in the Mezzanine, where the guests could linger, meet friends and acquaintances for a chat while getting in the mood with those delightful beverages – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. For some it was an opportunity that only happens once a year for many another get-together with well-known friends and fellow club members.

When the call came to dinner everyone found their seats and eagerly awaited the serving of the food proper restaurant style.

Service with a smile

In good company

My sincere "Compliments to the Chef" and kudos to the organizers of this glorious event! I am sure those were the sentiments of most of the guests at this extraordinary festivity. Among the many very well dressed people I noticed the Stritzl family – who had joined Vice President Toni Baumann at his table; Jürgen & Ute Schulz from International Furs in Brampton, Dieter & Hilde Kannenberg, colleagues from the past, and many others – too many to mention here.

Why is a New Year’s celebration such a big event? There are many other holidays throughout the year. Well, Christmas is mainly a family-oriented affair – even though preparations start months before the actual event and then lasts only a few days. Easter is mostly for the devout and the children – whose delight is the finding of hidden chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies. Thanksgiving also stretches over a long period before the actual date with harvest happenings and activities. Then there are Mothers-and Fathers-Days, Valentine, Labour Day and some other minor civic holidays. But nothing quite comes close to the celebration of the New Year.

To some it may just be another day; to others it has deep significance – almost as if their life had been cut that day and everything is going to be new, not necessarily better or worse – just different. Some will be mourning the old year – "remember when we did this, went there, or bought the new house, etc. etc.? "… Countless old memories come to mind. Others will be looking to the future with anticipation – to new trials, tribulations, fortunes and sometimes-unavoidable misfortunes. But it is a new year and everyone hopes for the best. "Che sera, sera"!

Peter Beck & his band

Dancing into the New Year

 Ah, to be young again! Somehow the years fell away and wonderful memories surged up. The mood of most of the guests was fantastic and time quickly passed to the "Magic Hour".

Soon everyone joined Joe Folk, the president of the club, when he was counting-down the last minutes – then the seconds: "Five, Four, Three Two, One – Happy New Year" – and:

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought tae mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne".

Happy New Year!

The balloons dropped from the ceiling and everyone was on their feet congratulating each other – now that the sword of fate had officially cleaved the old year from the new! So much well-wishing surely renewed hope for a brighter future.

Cheers!	Happy New Year, Maria & Joe Stritzl

While we were waiting for the goulash soup in the foyer I asked one of the patrons how he liked the event – his answer: "It was spectacular … but that was last year, now we are starting fresh!" That was a philosophy I could agree with.

Happy New Year to all and everyone!

Yours truly,

Dick Altermann