Many Decembers later, I took refuge in simply finding my car under a maxi-cloak of snow, pulling on the handle to pry open the iced-up door, then climbing into a frozen vehicle expelling a steady stream of white breath as thick as cigarette smoke. I would say a faint hallelujah after turning the ignition key and hearing the engine whimper to life, then out I would get to scrape the ice off the windshield. Five minutes needed to pass before the cold air in the vents changes to anything approaching warm. In the trunk lay the one-dimensional frozen flat-as-a-pancake Christmas Tree just purchased.
In Vancouver everyone stays home at the first sign of a flake, and those caught by surprise driving in a snowfall just drive their car off the road as if to end the suspense. December 1998 was the date of the last big snow storm, and sadly there are no Estonian delicatessens here. There is one Chinese or maybe it’s a Korean bakery that bakes pretty good dark rye bread. We must make our own rye bread and other delicacies. Clearly there is no shortage of good food. The Kembi Talu, with Kärtu Selde at the helm produces hundreds of pounds of rosolje and pirukad. Each year the family acts as an Ambassador of sorts to virtually all visiting and resident Estonians, hosting many functions on their botanical grounds.
Meie Kodu and St. Peter’s Church see considerable social action. The Lutheran church welcomes a congregation of fifty worshippers every Sunday. Orthodox Estonian services are also held there, while the Baptists meet in their own church. The Keerutajad folk-dancers led by the creative force of Veera Õunapuu meet regularly on Monday evenings, and put on three performances each year. Two weeks ago they entertained with songs and a series of short skits depicting Christmas preliminaries in the early 1900's. The Pensioners, who meet every other Wednesday, held their Christmas Bazaar Sunday, Dec. 7th. Tables were set up in the hall selling Estonian calendars, music, blood sausage, baked goods while downstairs there was a brisk sale of coffee and sandwiches. All in all, hardworking participants and organizers wear many different hats, and for the upcoming Children’s Christmas party, one of them will even wear a Santa Hat. Here Christmas Trees are bushy, available in select varieties of Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Grand Fir, Balsam Fir, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce and Scots Pine. And you can bet the tables are decorated with fir branches.