Below is a list of some of the things my family talked about over Christmas break. Discussion was made more interesting by the absence of the internet. Without access to answers, debates were more lively and evidence was more hilarious. Our 1981 National Geographic atlas was surprisingly useful, as were cell phone calculators and age variety. Here is how the Williams family and guests passed the long dimly lit nights in our dwelling at Ski Smithers.
-Smart wool replacing fleece and what will be the next hot fabric.
-Whether or not Belize was still called British Honduras in 1981.
-A hypothetical situation in which a fashion blogger named Samantha Shorthams is legally required to disclose on her web page that she is accepting money from Skanky Longdress Inc. (The legal world never did much for my family.)
-How fat characters are portrayed in Disney movies.
-Huge RVs towing GMC Suburbans.
-Whether or not average square footage of new homes is decreasing.
-Whether or not capitalism in its current form is ending, has ended, will ever end.
-The horrors of socialism.
-Accusing our Christian neighbours of not being nice enough.
-How long it would take to sail to Hawaii from Vancouver cruising at 5 knots.
-Excellent meats.
-The name of Chinese currency.
-Peter Mackay’s helicopter ride.
-Sir Elton John - gay knight.
-Hypothetical market value of various holiday goodies.
-The appropriate size for a wedding party.
Other subjects were touched. These ones stood out. 9 days and 9 million calories later I’m back in the Toronto airport witnessing the downhill slide of domestic air travel dress codes. On to St. John’s.