Thanksgiving in December
By Chris Chin, Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada
I haven't really had time to notice that Christmas is
arriving. As most of you know, I changed jobs this summer
and I've been burning the candle at both ends (as well as
in the middle) for a few months now.
The new Boss is originally from New Brunswick so the
Christmas spirit this year at the office is a bit more
evident than in other years. (I got a memo from him
stating that I MUST attend the office Christmas party).
I wouldn't say that social values in Quebec are any
different than else where in North America, they just
have a different "accent."
You see, Thanksgiving in most of French speaking Quebec
is simply another civic holiday for most. A time to rake
up the leaves, close down the cottage or do one last road
trip to a favourite stretch of river. The soul search "giving
of thanks" seems to bubble up to the surface more during the
Christmas season here.
So what would I say I have to give thanks for this year?
After all, it was a pretty rough year.
Well...
- JC still hasn't banned me from the Bulletin Board.
- I had the wonderful opportunity to meet quite a few
new friends this year, notably:
- J. Castwell's mild mannered twin brother, Jim.
- I found out why Deanna's handle is LadyFisher...
(because she is a Lady)
- JED! And his wonderful wife Joan,
- Faruk...a wealth of knowledge, history and culture,
- Tex, ...apparently a well known singer, ...all I know
is that he can paint a fine tableau and can cast a mean dry fly,
- I still have the respect of the Wardens on our home waters...
which means I didn't do anything stupid this year.
- I had dropped off the boards for only a few weeks
and I received literally DOZENS of PM's and e-mails from
concerned friends in our community here.
- I found out that I can still land an 18 lb salmon on a
5 lb tippet.
- I got snapped up right quick after losing my job,
so I must be doing something right at my day job.
Christmas is a pretty small affair at our home. I'm starting
to look for a small turkey, a pepper squash and the fixing's
for a Baked Alaska. But, it will be spent with my little
family here.
My thoughts will be going out to you all in our extended
family here, wishing you all a Safe and Happy Christmas 2006.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
~ Christopher Chin - Bay Comeau, Quebec
About Chris:
Chris Chin is originally from Kamloops,
British Columbia. He has been fly fishing
on and off ever since he was 10 years old.
Chris became serious about the sport within
the last 10 years.
"I'm a forest engineer by day and part time
guide on the Ste-Marguerite River here in
central Quebec. I've been fishing this river
for about 10 years now and started guiding
about 5 years ago when the local guide's
association sort of stopped functioning."
Chris guides mostly for sea run brook trout
and about 30% of the time for Atlantic Salmon.
"I often don't even charge service fees, as
I'm more interested in promoting the river
than making cash. I like to get new comers
to realize that salmon fishing is REALLY for
anyone who cares to try it. Tradition around
here makes some of the old clan see Salmon
fishing as a sport for the rich. Today our
shore lunches are less on the cucumber sandwich
side and more toward chicken pot pie and Jack
Daniel's."
Chris is 42 years old as of this writing. He
is of Chinese origin although his parents were
born and raised in Jamaica. He has a girlfriend,
Renée. "She and her 12 year old son Vincent
started fly fishing with me in October 2002."
To learn more about the Ste-Marguerite River,
visit Christopher's
website https://pages.videotron.com/fcch/.
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