Silent Night Nancy M Bell

To find out more about Storm's Christmas and other books by Nancy please click on the cover.

Christmas festivities change over the years. When we're young things are so simple.
We always put the tree up on December 20th as that was my birthday. Mom and Dad never wanted to put the tree up earlier than that as we always had a real tree and they worried that it would dry out.
We had these really cool bubble lights that were all different colors but got really hot when you left them on too long. There was a fluffy white angel on top.
One Christmas Eve when we were still outside in the driveway just getting out of the car Wendy and I got a huge surprise. There, coming down the Cooney’s driveway, who were our next door neighbors, was Santa Claus!

We both screamed and then bolted for the back door. If Santa came while were still up and awake he wouldn’t leave us anything. We tore through the back door into the kitchen and down the back hall to the bedroom. With our wet snow boots and coats still on Wendy and I scrambled into bed and pulled the covers over our heads. I had a harder time getting into bed as I had to climb up into the top bunk, but I made it. Mom and Dad came in and tried to get us to take off our coats and boots and change into night clothes. Wendy and I wouldn’t budge, we were pretending to be asleep so that Santa would leave our presents. We were sure that he was coming to our house any moment because we KNEW he just next door and he hadn’t been to our house next. He must have already been to Jo-anne and John Lee’s place because they lived on the other side of the Cooneys, so we had to be next. Mom and Dad must have removed our boots after we were asleep because they were gone in the morning. And Santa did leave our presents for us that year.

Then we get older and things get a little more complicated. Boyfriends and eventually husbands enter the scene and there are now two families with sometimes conflicting traditions to juggle. And then babies come, and bring with them a whole new dimension to the planning and logistics of the holidays. Somehow we survive the chaos and suddenly the babies aren't babies anymore. They grow up and acquire girlfriends and obligations beyond out small family circle. The years pass so quickly it's hard to fathom the reality of it.

And then our family circle grows smaller as children and their spouses go their own ways, often taking them far away from the home place. Though we are always together in our hearts, there is now a new meaning to Silent Night. No squeals of laughter on Christmas morning, tons of leftovers from a Christmas turkey cooked for only two. Looking down the years, I see the thread of my ancestors walking the same journey that I do, from maiden to mother to crone. Ahead of me I see the line of my descendants, walking the same journey as life spans wax and wane. There is a certain surety in the notion, the players may change but the story goes on forever.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons. Welcome back the light on Solstice Night.

www.nancymbell.ca

A Christmas Story -- Janet Lane Walters #MFRWAuthor #BWLAuthor #Christmas Story #Children

I wrote this story many years ago. At that time my children were young and I was into reading stories to them. They always asked me to write them a story and so I did.

 

The Urn of Fate

Pedro tossed a stone down the hill and sighed. He felt a tugging at his woolen scarf and turned to stroke Blanca, his pet merino sheep.

“Si, Blanca, soon it will be time to go down but I must think now. Jaime’s coming for a few days. Can you imagine, he’s to be my special friend until next Christmas?”

Pedro put his arm around Blanca and she settled beside him. Christmas hadn’t been good this year. Pedro frowned as he remembered how excited he’d been when his grandmother, Abuela, had picked up the Urn of Fate and started to draw names. Pedro had held his breath.

Last year, Tio Carlos had been his special friend. Tio Carlos had given him Blanca and had taught him many things about being a shepherd.

This year, Abuela had drawn Jaime’s name to be Pedro’s special friend. Pedro wondered what Jaime would give him. Jaime always had his nose in a book.

Pedro had been so disappointed he had run from the room, saying he had to feed Blanca and the chickens. His eyes had burned with tears. Abuela had planned the whole thing but it wouldn’t work. He and Jamie could never be special friends.

“Pedro, Pedro, come quickly,” his mother called.

Pedro rose slowly and untied Blanca’s rope. “We must go, little one.” He and Blanca made their way cautiously down the hill. Blanca was going to lamb soon and Pedro took special care of her. She was his future. Someday, he would have the largest flock of sheep in Spain.

“Pedro, I want you to take some eggs to Abuela.”

“Si, Mamacita,” said Pedro. “First, I must put Blanca in her pen.”

“Let Jaime do that while you gather the eggs.”

Pedro hadn’t noticed Jaime standing in the doorway. “Hello, Jaime,” he said. “I’ll get the eggs and you put Blanca in her pen. Be sure the door is shut.”

“May I pet her?” asked Jaime.

“Sure.”

As the boys started down the hill to their grandmother’s, Jaime said. “Blanca is a merino. I read they produce fine wool.”

Pedro grinned. Maybe Jaime wouldn’t be so bad after all.

When they reached their grandmother’s house, Pedro carried the eggs in. Jaime followed him.

“Good day, Abuela,” said Jaime.

Abuela took the eggs. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad Jaime could visit you. It will do you good to be outdoors more, Jaime.”

“Si Abuela,” Jaime said.

“And you, Pedro, Jaime can interest you in books. The schoolmaster has been talking to me.”

“I don’t need books. I’m going to be a shepherd.”

“Some knowledge might help.”

“Si, Abuela,” said Pedro. “Come, Jaime, Mamacita will have supper ready.”

The sky was growing dark and the wind had begun to blow.

“Hurry, Jaime,” said Pedro. “It’s going to snow and Tio Carlos said Blanca might have her lamb any time. I want to be with her.”

“Can you only think of that smelly sheep,” said Jaime. “Tio Carlos always smells like sheep.”

“So will I. I’m going to be a shepherd.”

“And I’m going to be a school teacher.”

When they reached home, Jaime went to the house but Pedro headed for Blanca’s pen. A few minutes alter, he burst into the house. “Blanca’s gone! It’s all your fault, Jaime. The door wasn’t closed tight.” He ran out.

“Pedro, wait for me,” called Jaime. “I’ll help you.” He pulled on his coat and tried to tuck the loose ends of his scarf in as he ran after Jaime. “I’m sorry I didn’t do it right.”

“I should have done it myself,” said Pedro. “Blanca, Blanca!” He tried to follow the tracks Blanca had left.

The wind began to blow and snow swirled through the air. Finally, Pedro stopped and slumped to the ground.

“It’s no use. The wind has hidden her tracks.”

“Pedro,” called Jaime. “Here’s a bit of wool on this bush. We must search like the American Indians do. I studied them in English class. We’ll find her.”

Pedro stumbled after Jaime. Each time Jaime found a new sign of Blanca’s travels, Pedro was amazed. The storm was so thick he could hardly see Jaime.

“I must rest,” Jaime said.

“But look, there’s a big lump in front of those bushes over there.”

Pedro ran forward. “We’ve found her. Oh, Blanca, why did you run away?”

He knelt beside Blanca on the ground.  His eyes widened when he saw the two lambs nestled against her. “Jaime, come quickly. Blanca has two lambs. We must get them home.”

“Pedro,” Jaime screamed.

Pedro turned and saw Jaime lying on the ground. He ran over.

“I tripped on a tree root,” said Jaime. “My ankle hurts. I can’t stand. Now we’ll never get Blanca and her two lambs home.”

“You found Blanca and I will get us home,” said Pedro.

Pedro found some stout branches and put one on either side of Jaime’s injured leg. He tied them with his and Jaime’s scarves. Then he carried Blanca and the lambs to Jaime.

“Put the lambs in your coat to keep them warm while I try to make some kind of sled with some of these pine branches. I’m glad you didn’t take Blanca’s rope off. We can use that.”

After Pedro wove the branches together, he put Jaime and Blanca on the makeshift sled. He tugged on the short rope and started down the hill. The sled bounced over the uneven ground and Pedro thought it might fall apart before they got far. He hoped he could find some shelter for Jaime and Blanca so he could continue home for help.

“Pedro,” said Jaime. “Sheep are soft. Can we be friends?”

“Didn’t the Urn of Fate choose us?” said Pedro. “Maybe you can find me some books about sheep.”

“Pedro, look. There are some lights moving up the hill.”

Pedro looked up. Mamacita must have called men from the village to look for us. We’re almost home, my Blanca, my two lambs and my special friend. Here we are,” he shouted.

The End

The Banting Legacy, by J.C. Kavanagh

Darkness Descends, 

Book 2 of the award-winning Twisted Climb series

I live in rural Ontario, Canada, near the town of Alliston (population approximately 20,000). The town is about 15 minutes from home and is my typical shopping destination. Alliston is well known for its potatoes (vying for Canada's top spot vs Prince Edward Island), and the enormous Honda production facility, which encompasses 45 acres and employs 4,000 people.  Though it has grown by 25% since the 2011 Census, the town is still small enough to maintain that 'country charm' sought after by city dwellers.

But what Alliston is most famous for is not pototatoes or Honda vehicles. Alliston is the birth-place of the renowned scientist, physician and painter, Sir Frederick Banting.

Sir Frederick Banting, 1891 - 1941

Few people know the diverse traits of the man famous for co-discovering the insulin treatment for diabetes. Born in Alliston, Ontario in 1891, Banting was the youngest of five children. He attended public school in Alliston and later attended Victoria College, part of the University of Toronto. He enrolled in the General Arts program and, believe it or not, failed in his first year. However, despite that setback, he was accepted into the university's medical program in 1912. World War I intervened and in 1915, Banting joined the medical corps of the army. As there were insufficient doctors to support the troops, Banting's class was fast-tracked and he graduated in December 2016, reporting for military duty the very next day. Despite being wounded at the Battle of Cambrai in northern France, Banting continued to provide medical assistance to comrades for the next 16 hours. A year later, in 1919, he was awarded the Military Cross for heroism.

Military Cross of Canada

Banting returned to Canada after the war, taking up orthopedic medicine and working as resident surgeon at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. He moved his practice to London, Ontario and also taught orthopedics and anthropology part-time at the University of Western Ontario. It was there that his interest in diabetes unfolded. Dr. Banting had been asked to give a lecture on the pancreas, a gland organ located between the stomach and small intestine where enzymes, or digestive juices, are secreted into the small intestine. While researching reports from other medical scientists, he read that many of his colleagues believed the disease called 'diabetes' was the result of an insufficient hormone named insulin and that this hormone was secreted by the pancreas. A theory had been proposed that insulin was instrumental in regulating the body's glucose/sugar level. The lack of insulin led to an increase of sugar in the blood and these high sugar levels were found in the patient's urine. But back in 1920, when Banting was preparing his lecture, the purpose of the hormone insulin was not confirmed. Therefore, those suffering from diabetes had no protocols to contain the disease and death was almost always inevitable. The condition was more common in children and therefore referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, indicating that the body produced little or no insulin. Banting believed that by introducing insulin into the patient, it would support the non-functioning pancreas. The problem was how to find and extract the hormone. With the support of Dr. John Macleod, professor of physiology at the University of Toronto, Banting began experimenting ways to extract insulin from the pancreas of animals. His experiments were successful and he was able to produce insulin for human use. In 1922, Banting opened a private practice in Toronto and began treating diabetic patients. According to Wikipedia, Banting's first American patient was the daughter of U.S. Secretary of State, Charles Evans Hughes.

In 1923, in recognition of their life-saving work, Banting and Macleod were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine. Banting was 32 years old and is still the youngest Nobel laureate to receive the prize in Physiology/Medicine. That same year, the government of Canada granted Banting a lifetime annuity to continue his work in the field of diabetic / insulin treatment.

Banting's artistic endeavours were also elevated during this time. He became friends with two of Canada's famous The Group of Seven artists, A.Y. Jackson and Lawren Harris. Accompanying Jackson on sketching expeditions, the two travelled to the Arctic and along the St. Lawrence River, and Banting's sketches were widely regarded as some of the best amateur art of its time.

Sir Frederick Banting (right) and Canadian artist A.Y. Jackson from The Group of Seven,
sketch on the ship S.S. Beothic along the Canadian arctic coast, 1927

A Banting canvas circa 1927 and  titled “French River,”
was painted during a sketching adventure with A.Y. Jackson in Sudbury, Ontario.
Only 200 known canvasses are in existence today.
The most expensive, “Rooftops, Quebec City,” sold for $76,050 in 2008. 

In recognition of his contribution to humanity, King George V awarded Banting a knighthood in 1934, bestowing upon him the official title, 'Sir.' 

Sir Frederick Banting continued his medical practice and research for many years, working in Toronto and London, Ontario. However, his genius was not dedicated solely to the production of insulin. In 1938, he lead a Royal Canadian Air Force team researching the physiological problems - blackouts - that pilots encountered while flying high-altitude combat aircraft. He was also instrumental in the creation of the anti-gravity suit, or 'G-suit,' designed by Wilbur Franks, a fellow medical scientist. Together, they developed the pressurized suit that prevented pilots from 'blacking out' from g-forces exerted during turning or diving. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, NASA's space suit is a refined version of Franks' G-suit.

Wilbur Frank, inventor of the anti-gravity, or G-suit

World War II was underway when Banting undertook a new project - the treatment of mustard gas burns. The British, the U.S., Soviets and Germans were stockpiling tons of the chemical, which was used with horrifying results in chemical warfare. It was said that Banting even tested the gas and proposed treatment on himself, to determine its effectiveness.

In February of 1941, Banting was travelling via airplane to England, departing from Gander, Newfoundland. He was going to meet with colleague Wilbur Franks, and conduct tests on the new 'flying suit' Franks had developed. Shortly after takeoff, the two engines failed and the plane crashed in Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland. Two of the four people on board died instantly, but Banting and the American pilot, Joseph Mackey, survived the crash. Sadly though, Banting died the next day due to his injuries. He was 49 years old. (Of note, the stunt pilot later founded his own airline, Mackey Airlines. The business ceased operations in 1981.)

The birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting in Alliston, Ontario.
The Banting homestead is also called Ballyfin, due to the Banting family's Irish roots.

Sir Frederick Banting's family farm in Alliston, Ontario was bequeathed to the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) by his late nephew, in 1998. The local government offered the OHS $1 million to purchase the land, with the intention of handing over the property and buildings to the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation. The Foundation planned to erect a Camp for Diabetic Youths. However, the OHS reneged on the deal and sold the property to a housing development company for more than $2 million. Not to be outdone, the local government designated the property under the Ontario Heritage Act, preventing commercial development on the lands. Though it was strenuously objected to by the property development company, the designation was approved by the Ontario Conservation Review board and in 2007, the property was officially designated a Heritage Site. Today, the buildings house Banting's Diabetes Management and Education Centre. If you would like more information on Sir Frederick Banting, visit www.bantinglegacy.ca

The Banting cairn is a five-ton granite ball symbolizing the impact
the discovery of insulin had on the world, and stands guard at the entrance to
the Banting homestead in Alliston, Ontario.

After all these accomplishments, it is no wonder then, that Sir Frederick Banting was voted one of the top 10 Greatest Canadians of all time in a 2004 CBC poll. His legacy thrives in the lives of many. The local high school is named after him and a good number of educational awards are bestowed in his name.

Sourced from Wikipedia, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Banting Legacy, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Madhunt.com

J.C. Kavanagh

The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2)

voted Best Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll, and

Best YA Book Finalist from The Word Guild, Canada

AND

The Twisted Climb (Book 1)

voted Best Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll

Novels for teens, young adults and adults young at heart

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