To the readers,
Look, I don't have a speech, article or column that can magically turn someone's holiday around.
But, as the resident rookie at the Tri-City News, I felt led to say something about this time of year I hold close to my heart.
The opportunity to be surrounded by loved ones, regardless of who or where they are during these never-ending, challenging, sometimes discouraging times.
Last year, my wife and I spent our first holiday as a married couple while we were living in Prince George.
And trust me, it's a city that gives you a REAL honest-to-goodness white Christmas with lots of snow and the northern lights putting on a show.
We made plans to fly down to see family, but COVID-19 had other plans and we had to roll with the punches.
We didn't want to risk the chance of potentially spreading the virus. At the time, more Prince George flights were getting notified of exposures.
It was VERY difficult to cancel those flights and even more so to call each other's parents to tell them we won't be joining them at the dinner table for turkey.
Instead, we made the most of what ended up being a humbling, intimate experience. We got the chance to simply be with each other, share our time, surprise one another with gifts that had already arrived and watch our favourite holiday films.
Fast forward to late April 2021.
We were told our time in B.C.'s northern capital was coming to a close, but there were jobs waiting for us in the Lower Mainland. We were sad to leave, myself especially as I called PG home for almost five years, but we were also thrilled to know we were going to be closer to our extended families.
We knew that this was a blessing in disguise as it meant we would get to spend the holidays with siblings and in-laws only a 30-minute drive away.
And even so, ever since we've reconvened to the south, we've made efforts to safely spend every weekend with them.
The transition has also helped us realize that we're going to be okay, regardless of what the pandemic may bring next.
The Tri-Cities has been very welcoming whenever I get the chance to go out into the community. I'm honoured to be telling stories in these communities because everyone and virtually (literally and figuratively) become part of your families too.
Don't get me wrong, Lower Mainland traffic is terrible most of the time, but at least you get a view of the mountains almost wherever you go.
So, to tie this up in a bow, what this time of year circles back to, in my opinion, is family and gratitude.
This holiday season, I'm choosing to stay positive, safe and grateful what I have.
I'm grateful for my wife who stands by me no matter what. I'm grateful for my health. I'm grateful for a roof above my head. I'm grateful for a loving family who I get to see this weekend. I'm grateful for my dog, Peaches, as she's been a surprise blessing in these times.
If you don't have family, I've been in your shoes before, but trust me when I say there are people who unconditionally care and are willing to share the seasonal spirit.
Whether that's over the phone, through a video camera or in person.
Question is: will you take that leap of faith?
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from my family to yours!
- Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News
