Credit: Mel Rothenburger

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: A big thank-you to all those who keep us safe on Christmas

Dec 24, 2020 | 5:10 AM

KAMLOOPS — TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS DAY, the culmination of what we call the holiday season. This year, due to COVID-19, the season has been like no other.

We’ve been asked to stay home and stay away from many of the family and friends we usually celebrate with. It’s a tall order, and we might tend to feel sorry for ourselves.

But we don’t have it so bad. Think about all those people who will spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day on the job, keeping us safe.

First and foremost, of course, we need to think about all those healthcare workers who have been giving it their all each and every day of the week, especially since the pandemic hit. If we have a medical emergency on Christmas and have to go to the hospital, there will be doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff waiting for us.

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And if we need the police, they’ll be there when we call. They’ll be patrolling the streets, keeping a lid on crime, attending motor vehicle accidents and all the myriad of things they do every day.

If there’s a power outage, Hydro crews will get in their trucks and drive to a downed transmission line and repair it so we can enjoy the electricity we take for granted. If there’s a broken water line, City staff will be there to patch it up. If there’s a big snowfall, the plows will be on the job.

For them and so many others — firefighters, 911 operators, care home workers, ambulance drivers — spending tomorrow away from family is part of the job.

Because as special as Christmas is, life must go on, and these are the folks who make certain the rest of us can spend the day, and every day, safely and in comfort. To them, on behalf of the rest of us, thank you, and a Merry Christmas.

And from this armchair to yours, have a wonderful holiday.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

Ed. Note: WE ALWAYS PUT THIS DISCLAIMER ON THE END OF OUR COMMENTS. BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT’S SAFE TO SAY IT’S A HEARTFELT WISH NOT ONLY FROM THE ARMCHAIR MAYOR, BUT FROM ALL OF US AT BROADCAST CENTRE.