This is Ziggy, in 2015. She was four then, she is 12 now. She has a busy day ahead, as the three humans in the house cook a turkey with all the fixings and then eat leftovers for the next six months. It’s a great tradition!
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Ranking the Edmonton Oilers’ top 6 trade assets
- Lowetide: Did the Oilers solve Leon Draisaitl’s winger issues in New Jersey?
- Lowetide: What can Dylan Holloway bring the Oilers when he returns?
- DNB: Evan Bouchard is unlocking his potential on the Edmonton Oilers blue line
- Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have enough actual NHL players?
- Lowetide: Winning or development? Assessing Oilers’ AHL team and what it means for the future
- DNB: Add a middle-6 forward or 2 to the long list of Oilers needs
- DNB: Why Paul Coffey’s surprise Edmonton Oilers coaching opportunity is paying off
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects ranking, winter 2023
CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOUSE
I didn’t have Christmas as a kid, my first Christmas came in 1982, Medicine Hat at my future wife’s parents place. When Jo-Anne found out I had never had a Christmas, she made every effort to make sure I enjoyed every one after. She was an amazing cook and baker. She loved Christmas, it was her favourite time of year. She made butter tarts with old timey crusts, so flakey there were bits and pieces of homemade shell all over the place when you finished. It didn’t matter, because your taste buds were in heaven.
She made turkey (cooked in a bag), mashed potatoes, the best dressing in history, two vegetables, wonderful gravy, apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, butter tarts. She started at around 10, I took out the garbage about 10 hours later. I helped with the stuffing, getting the stuffing in the turkey, driving to the store for anything forgotten.
I loved every Christmas day I knew her, because of her.
Today, her little family is going to climb the freaking Matterhorn and make a turkey, potatoes, dressing and one vegetable. We bought an apple pie. There will be tears. We will celebrate a great woman, the heart and soul of this family.
The kids have had a difficult year, but their Mom and I are proud of them. I always think of their Mom hovering over them with her tremendous care, I think that’s normal but don’t really care if it makes me strange. I think I passed that outpost (strange) many years ago, so have no worries entering new areas of weirdness at this point in my life.
My son has a great job now, he continues to amaze with great creativity in game making. The first game he made in grade school (“Socks and other assorted laundry”) and he has continued to this day. He is gaining a following, which is so cool, and I suspect he’ll flourish in whatever path he takes in life.
My daughter has decided to chart a new course next year. She wants to get into media, and plans to take the radio and television program at NAIT in the future. She’s hellasmart, has a quick brain, a fine voice and is used to going long periods without eating solid meals or doing laundry. She’s perfect for radio! I’m so proud of her, always will be. I do think it ironic that I suggested to both of my children radio was an area they could flourish in, but it took a phone conversation with a friend of mine (also in radio) to ignite the spark. I have learned many times over that parents can make suggestions forever that don’t land, but the same message from another person can make all the difference. It takes a village.
I have started down the road to “moving on” with my life. It’s a difficult path, the guilt is overwhelming but so is the urge to find a new place in the sun. I think Jo-Anne would approve, in fact I know for sure she’s laughing at my ridiculous missteps as a single man. Probably having wine with my Mom and her sister, cracking jokes, cackling and having a merry old time. I hope so. I remain grateful for Jo-Anne, I will love her forever. She was a profound force in my life. I see her every day in the words, actions and mannerisms of my children. I will honour her always, as she would me, although she would be far better at it because these things came more naturally to her.
Ziggy was a mess for most of the last year. Watching a dog suffer, with no way to make it better, is a searing pain I never want to see again. I can tell you that no one in those house felt the loss more than this ridiculous 14 pound dog with the all-world underbite. She has been even more spoiled than she was, the three humans in the house unable to resist those eyes. She barks at John my neighbour like he’s done something wrong (John is one of the kindest humans I’ve ever known, and is always good to the dog) and she’s on to him.
It’s 7:28 am Edmonton time. I wished Jo-Anne a Merry Christmas this morning, make sure you do the same for all the people you love. I hope Jo-Anne is watching over us today, as we shove a turkey into the oven and hope for the best. I’ll let you know 12 hours from now how things went in the comments section. I don’t have much to say about the Oilers today, promise to write a novella tomorrow in this space.
Please enjoy your Christmas today, make sure to make a fuss about Mom, because Moms are the best. Be good to each other, hugs all around, laugh and cry and tell your people you love them while looking them straight in the eye. Especially you, Dads. Get positively mushy. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas ❤️
Merry Christmas LT.
This blog has been a daily tradition for a lot of us for years and I’m sure it gets new followers daily. It’s brought the ability to celebrate and loathe our favourite team.
We appreciate you and your stories. Keep it up.
Merry Christmas to you and you family Sir Mitchell.
I’ve been a bit disconnected from the team for the first time in my life. Whether it’s your writing on this site and the Athletic, or the radio show, thank you sir.
Funny how you can step away (not too far) from a team but not an author.
You’re a good man and your work and effort is much appreciated, in many ways by many people.
I grew up with Sasky (Elbow and Regina) grandparents, playing crib and I’ve always had an appreciation for your outlook on life and writing.
Bless you!
Glad the turkey turned out well. And glad the kids are finding their way.
Merry Christmas to your whole family LT.
The turkey was good, the dressing was great, we appear to have about 500 days worth of leftovers and no one is ill. Christmas 2023 was a success at our house. Even Ziggy helped (Ziggy was NO help, got in the way and barked when I took out the turkey, scaring the hell out of me!)
Merry Xmas LT and the the oiler collective!
Back in town for Christmas with the Ekholms! Well, not really.
Back with our two boys to have Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa. Took the boys to the park today, like you do when it’s warm on Christmas. We took a soccer ball and some catch toys to the field, and of course the boys saw the playground and only wanted to play there.
Got there and noticed the dad of the only other family at the playground had a real Mattias Ekholm type beard. Then I noticed he was 6’5″, in great shape, and had a Swedish accent, his wife was wearing an Oilers battle of Alberta toque (from the heritage classic), and his daughter was also wearing an Oilers toque.
If I had a pen or marker I would have asked him for an autograph for the boys. But I was just as content letting the Ekholms enjoy their Christmas family time at the park in peace. He did wish us a merry Christmas though! I thought it was neat.
The other day someone made a glib comment about the boys enjoying the sun where ever they took off to for the break and I thought it’s a short break, I bet many just stayed home. Happy to see the Ekholms enjoying the city. I really have a lot of respect for how grounded they are.
Merry Christmas to you and yours LT.
Though many of don’t know you personally, you are an inspiration in your effort and abilities to prose beautifully. Your words inspire many.
Enjoy your day with your kids. Embrace the reflections.
Take care and have a great day.
ps, hope the turkey turns out perfect
The night game is the hype game of Christmas. So many story lines… The two best records in the two conferences meeting with two weeks to play. The two stats darlings. The two Super Bowl favorites. The two MVP favorites. The two best rushing teams versus the two best linebacker pairs. And so on…
Lamarr is 24-1 lifetime against the NFC.
Niners are the 3rd best offense in the Super Bowl era by yards per play
Ravens have run the ball for more than a 100 yards for thirty straight games. The next longest active streak is seven.
Niners have won six in a row by more than ten points, the first team to do so since 2009.
There are stats upon stats for this matchup. Going to have to play the game to reveal the better team. As it should be.
The Ravens like to use concealed pressure more than any else in the league. Keep an eye on the line of scrimmage, they’re going to show blitz a lot but won’t always be blitzing. Very difficult to read their D, but young Purdy has faced quite a few of these teams already in his short career.
The Ravens keep their boxes light on D against 21 personnel and if they do that against the Niners, the Niners will be able to match the Ravens run game. Niners are hurting on the interior of their D line and couldn’t stop the run themselves last week.
If this turns into a track meet, you have to give the nod to the Niners. They are better built for scoring fast and often. If it’s close, whoever wins the turnover battle should come out on top. Niners have the better turnover stats but you can’t rely on that edge in a single game.
Despite all the Super Bowl hype, I can’t see either team’s aspirations getting crushed by a loss here. These two squads are just too good and too confident to be swayed going forward.
Don’t feel bad Munny, Lions lost to Baltimore as well.
A Hurts pick-six snapped me out of my meal-induced coma on the couch. The Eagles are fine. They’ve responded with a TD of their own, but despite looking in cruise control in the first half, they still often look like the bolts are shaking loose. Fair catching a kickoff on the 12 yard line raises eyebrows.
They’re suffering a bit from what is ailing the Chiefs of Kansas City. You have to give your star QB his payday, but after you do, the team starts to bleed talent as it can’t afford to re-sign anyone else under the cap. Eagles are not the same talent level as last year. And maybe there’s some stuff behind the scenes too.
KC is the poster child for paying the QB and bleeding talent off the roster, but they’ve done it smart. They’ve paid the defense. Keep the games close and see if the all star QB can find a way to win. That did not work today. The Raiders, since losing 6-3 a couple of weeks ago look like a recovered alcoholic who hit rock bottom with that loss and got born again in Athletes Anonymous. Two absolutely assertive wins in a row. They can still win the division over the Chiefs.
Eagles have just given up another touchdown. They just don’t look button down this year. They’re still a powerhouse, don’t get me wrong, but there’s too many mistakes happening. Eagles still up by 5, just need to bring it home.
LT
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Contact at the top of the page, or email jbabcook@shaw.ca
Thanks for the words today Allan, Merry Christmas. I hope the turkey turns out ok, honestly cook it until it’s all fall aparty, that is the best, even if it’s technically over cooked by temp.
I posted this before but we lost my mother in law earlier this year to cancer, and your Christmas sounds like a similar vibe to ours. All my family is gone, we aren’t hosting this year and just trying to make it somewhat normal/special for the kids. But my wife and I are not feeling all that festive.
Appreciate the advice to get mushy with the mothers in our lives. While I’m sad as well, my wife is really suffering today and I’ll do my best to bring her up. At least we are good cooks and are cooking a decent meal (steaks/baked potatoes) even if it doesn’t really feel like Christmas.
Merry Christmas Allan. I enjoy your blog (by far the most) and your humanity in caring deeply for others. Enjoy time with your family, every moment. Cheers.
Merry Christmas all from the wet West Coast
Best wishes to you and your family LT – thanks for this community
Merry Xmas LT and family and all you fellow fans who come here. First Xmas as a grandfather with a new grand daughter! Special indeed!
“I have started down the road to “moving on” with my life. It’s a difficult path, the guilt is overwhelming but so is the urge to find a new place in the sun. I think Jo-Anne would approve, in fact I know for sure she’s laughing at my ridiculous missteps as a single man. Probably having wine with my Mom and her sister, cracking jokes, cackling and having a merry old time. I hope so. I remain grateful for Jo-Anne, I will love her forever.”
——————————
First off, your writing had me in tears today.
Second – I feel like the moving on part is a constant push / pull exercise until one day you have “sort of” moved on. But you never truly move on. You just learn to live again, but always have the memories and the fabric of the past linked to your new day to day life.
My 1st Christmas without my Dad – different experience than yours, not comparing. But I can say it certainly feels wierd – and of course sad. He taught me my love for hockey (Leafs fan the silly man was).
LT, I wish upon you a mountain of Goodwill and Good Fortune for you and your kids in 2024. Sometimes the journey seems overwhelming, the pain too much. But the journey is all that we are promised, no matter how difficult it can be.
Grateful for LT.
Grateful for the LT blog.
Grateful for the Oilers.
Happy Holidays Everyone
Merry X-mas to one and all, and especially our gracious host LT.
LT
“I always think of their Mom hovering over them with her tremendous care, I think that’s normal but don’t really care if it makes me strange. I think I passed that outpost (strange) many years ago, so have no worries entering new areas of weirdness at this point in my life.”
It is very normal to think this way, not strange at all. Jo-Anne’s influence on her kids will last them a life time … and will become more significant as the age.
Best in ’24 to all and especially those who enjoy this blog.
Thanks a bunch Al. For a minute there, you had me cutting onions with a butter knife. Merry Cristmas to you and yours, as well as the rest of the fine crew here!
Merry Christmas LT, your kids and of course Ziggy. Warm thoughts and wishes for you and yours, today and always.
Good tidings to all Lowetidians that make up this very special place you have made here.
While I’m not religious this is one of my favourite quotes I discovered reading James Herriot books when young, which is from a hymn by Mrs Cecil Alexander. Your writings are a daily gift that sometimes makes me think of this:
“All Things Bright and Beautiful
All Creatures Great and Small (Ziggy!)
All Things Wise and Wonderful
The Lord God Made Them All”
A reminder of having gratitude and I thank you.
Merry Xmas everybody. My wife was so on the ball this year, I got Detroit Lions gear. 😀
Merry Christmas to all those who inhabit this wonderful space.
Most importantly, Joyeux Noël to our gracious host and his family. I too am a childhood non-Christmas refugee, and my spouse pulls out all the stops to make sure I enjoy myself almost as much as the kids. It’s her favourite holiday, too, and celebrating together has become my North star.
Reading aloud your holiday posts has become a tradition for us; the missus also sends her best wishes to you and yours.
— Merry Christmas everyone (we also celebrate Hannukah as a hybrid family) As I sit in the room with my wound up youngest 2 year old knowing it’s the last Christmas I will be putting one of my kids to bed for a nap (I might have one too)
— My wife’s parents are here, my parents coming shortly with my sister brother in law and their 3 boys : capacity crowd.
— What’s on everyone’s menu: Turkey (currently on green egg), Beef Wellington and deviled eggs with caviar are our highlights…. That and my Moms baked goodies…
— Scotch time with father in law who spoils me with scotch I wouldn’t ever buy, resulting in the most decadent scotch collection I’ve been gifted over the year that even Sheps would approve…
Merry Christmas, everyone!⛄🎁🎄
These Holiday and Christmas posts in particular have always been my favourites. Nice reminders of life and distractions from the negatives. Thank you for the wonderful community here.
I’m just relaxing watching some Godzilla and thinking of if I should head over to some family or not.
When I was young, Christmas did not have much meaning to me. It was basically Midnight Mass and maybe one gift under the tree.
When I think back to when my kids were young they were spoiled. It got so bad we had to make a collective decision to scale back. Schlepping everything to northern Quebec and then back again, 11 hour drive each way, just too much, especially with 6 people and a couple of dogs in the car.
Now I kind of enjoy it more. I get into putting up the lights, the tree, slipping gifts with no note on them under the tree so no one knows who’s who, what’s what! And today it is quiet!
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas Al, and all. Wishing you all the best of the season, and our beloved Oilers a Stanley.
It is very dusty in here. Al, my heart reaches out to you and your family. I am sure you treasure your memories, may you find a little pleasure in this day.
We are blessed to have 20 some adults and children for dinner. My bride of 25 years works so hard to make it a great day for everyone and of course she bought gifts for our two mutts. To all the other visitors to the site, may your christmas season be full of joy as well.
Merry Christmas LT and friends!
Merry Christmas one and all!
Merry Xmas LT and family! And an XL stocking’s worth of head pats and ear rubs to Ziggy!!
Merry christmas to you and yours Holidays are the worst and best of times.
Merry Christmas LT and children!! I wish you a day that brings more than you could plan for or expect
And Merry Christmas to all of you. The fact that so many of you participate regularly and semi regularly is what makes this place so fun, even if there are some battles and some animated emotions
With a free moment there is almost always a discussion to engage in, to the point one gets a little used to it, and can feel hard done by or bored when it’s quieter than usual
Merry Christmas LT.
Thank you for all you are and all that you do.
this dusty ol hockey blog must be something special if all us folks are logging on on Christmas morning.
Best of the season to all. Hug everything in sight today.
Merry Christmas LT and all you others who inhabit this little cafe that LT has created for himself and us. Thanks LT for your thoughtful and beautiful writings and insights into hockey and the bit of life that is left after hockey. AM radio at its best! Keep your stick on the ice.
Allan, thank you for reminding me of human decency.
I used to come here for hockey talk but it seems so unimportant lately. This little corner of the web that you have carved out is more like therapy.
Enjoy your family today, my friend I’ve never met.
Happy Xmas to LT, Ziggy and the characters who populate this space.
The better half and I are visiting her folks in beautiful Santo Alberto. My mom gets a visit later this week back in Sask.
One of our three fur babies (all 11-ish of age) has developed an untreatable respiratory condition and now sounds like a congested Darth Vader. We will have an agonizing decision to make in ’24 about whether to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Enjoy your holidaying!
Thoughts are with you on this Tarkus!
Merry Christmas to Al and all.
You too, Tyler. All the best to your and yours this Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Tyler. Say hello and best of the season to Les, and I hope you win the Stanley!
It really is getting dusty in here. Merry Christmas LT. What an amazing story, as always. From my family to yours I wish for you a healthy, safe and fun time with loved ones.To all the readers and posters, thank you for the community that stems from our mutual love of all things Oilers. 🍻
Thank you LT!
Merry Christmas All!
It’s dusty in here all of a sudden.
Merry Christmas to all, especially our fine host. Brighter days ahead.
Marry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for all the wonderful hockey talk and the personal stories that keep us entertained all year long. It’s very appreciated.
Merry Christmas Allan! My family in southern Saskatchewan is doing well. We are doing the in-law tour today, from Regina to Melville (with our 2 Labs). Thank you for sharing about your family today!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, LT.
It is the most wonderful time of the year, where we find joy and light after darkness.
Thank you for continuing to inspire us with your wisdom (and whimsy).
Thank you for the update LT. We are just about to get going with our boys & some family joining us for dinner later on. Time together is precious & I appreciate the reminder.
Happy Christmas to one and all on this day. May we find a goalie for the Oilers under the tree.
Merry Christmas LT, I hope you and your kids and Ziggy have a very nice day
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas LT and fellow Lowetidians.
Merry Christmas Allan!
You got this!
Merry Christmas everyone, May you find peace and joy where ever you are.
Take care!
All the best to you and your family, LT.