Page 6 December 3, 2015 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance Article and photos by TerriAnn Ferren Thanksgiving has passed and everyone is in full swing of the ‘holiday season’ in Torrance, and around the world. It all began on ‘black Friday’ when stores opened early, welcoming shoppers eagerly searching for that special bargain. Our town celebrates with joy and love every year. The Historical Society hosted Santa last Sunday and he was available for special photographs, and then Santa, along with his helpers at the Torrance Police Department, began busily polishing up the ‘Santa float’ for his annual trip through the neighborhood streets of Torrance. Santa has been riding the TPOA (Torrance Police Officers Association) float since 1969. You will hear the music and see the lights as Santa takes a break from the North Pole to visit Torrance. Look for the float November 29th through December 20th. The YMCA Christmas Tree lot on the corner of Madrona Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard, as usual, and is open for business, and in full swing. It is fun to shop at that Christmas tree lot and smell the fresh pine. Check it out. And the residents, who live in the houses in Seaside Ranchos on the Southwest end of Torrance, are again making the effort to decorate their neighborhood and their homes with tiny white lights, reindeer, mangers, menorahs, vignettes, and celebrations of the season. Bob and Diane Solomon began the annual tradition many years ago and continue celebrating with gusto. And as someone once said, “If you light them – they will come.” Sister Mary Pat (Maripat Donovan) will be performing in Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold on Saturday, December 5th at 8 p.m. and December 6th at 2 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre. Frankly, I can’t wait for that show. The town is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as the song says, but my home is another story. I didn’t begin decorating early – I mean who likes to look at a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving dinner? So now, as I look around my house, I clearly see that I need help in the decorating department. Usually, my handyman, Thomas comes over and helps with my tree. My Christmas tree isn’t that tall, so I put it up on a small table to give it extra lift – plus that allows presents to circle the base with more room. A few years ago, I put tiny white lights outside on the oleander trees in my patio so you could see them from the dining room, and that serves as my Christmas lights every year – no matter that I leave them up year round. I used to look at houses where people left their Christmas lights up year round and raise my eyebrows. Now I think they are smart. Slowly, each day, I select a bit of decoration from the closet and place it carefully around the house. There is a huge added bonus to this year’s holiday shopping. In case you missed it, we have the beautiful, spacious, light-filled Del Amo Mall extension that was recently completed, located on Hawthorne Boulevard between Carson Street and Torrance Boulevard. It will make searching for that special something a lot easier, not to mention enjoying the beautiful window decorations that always accompany the season. Even before I hit the mall, my friend, Vickie Vega told me I just had to get down there because it is beautiful. The churches in our town have been practicing for their annual Christmas concerts and are setting up the mangers, and getting ready for Christmas celebrations. Even our grocery stores have reminders that it is Christmas. Hearing the sound of a bell rung by a Salvation Army representative, standing with the familiar red bucket outside the doors, remind us sharing is even more important this time of year. By the way, this year, for the very first time, I have volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army the mornings of December 5th and 12th at the grocery store on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor. I can’t wait! At a recent luncheon, I asked a few citizens of Torrance if they were ready for the holidays. Brian Sunshine told me, “They are just rushing over like a giant tsunami wave.” Film and stage actor, producer, director, and writer, Ted Lange told me, “I am close - very close to being ready [for the holidays]. I direct plays and rehearse, so you have to have preparation - and I try and adhere to it as best I can. That is my training - so I pack three days before I get ready to go [on holiday] because you wake up and forget to put this in…it is all about preparation.” Well, he seems ready. Dyna Kaemerle then told me, “Holidays don’t start until after Thanksgiving! [After Thanksgiving] it is time to get into high gear.” “I am not ready at all. I have been in there [the mall] and it is nice,” added Jean Jordan. “Not at all [ready]. I shop in the two weeks after Thanksgiving,” said Torrance City Treasurer Rebecca Poirier. “Christmas is great, I am not a last minute shopper. My wife is Australian so we have to order way ahead so we can send it off in time,” said Sam Fowler. Councilman Gene Barnett and his lovely wife, Linda, former Torrance City Treasurer, told me they are having some work done on their house so they are celebrating Christmas at one of their daughters’ houses this year. That should cut down on their preparation. Every year around October, I try to slow down time, thinking Christmas can’t actually be a little over two months away. Where did the year go? Is December really around the corner? I try and ignore it, thinking maybe if I do, I will somehow magically be more prepared. That doesn’t work. If you are like me, life is busy. Most of us seem to take on more and more without letting go of anything we continue to do. Then I thought about what Christmas is really all about and I took a deep breath. Donna Gervais told me, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” And Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of light. May peace and love fill your hearts as we all celebrate ‘the season’ in our beautiful hometown of Torrance. • Sam Fowler. Christmas Already? Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk. Dyna Kaemerle, Ted Lange, and Jean Jordan.
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