Carmine Stumpo, the CEO of Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, is embracing the lifestyle of his new home - especially at Christmas. This is his story.
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For me, the holidays are all about spending time with family.
We have over 20 years of memories, planning different fun events over the holiday break.
Starting from the days the kids were young, our family would end up planning some sort of activity to enjoy the time together. From ping-pong tournaments to karaoke night to scavenger hunts on our family’s farm, there always seemed to be something different every year.
Although we have frequently spent Christmas in Orillia in the past, last year was my first full year living here. With the kids home from university, we got together on Christmas Eve with family for a sleigh ride in Oro-Medonte. It was a cold, clear night - the perfect backdrop to enjoy the natural beauty this area has to offer.
I have to admit – there were a few complaints while looking for warm hats and mitts for the entire crew. Why would we leave the comfort of home which was fully equipped with food, drink and a strong WiFi signal?
That quickly passed as we arrived to see the horse-drawn sleigh and snow-covered trails on the rolling hills. No one seemed to mind sitting on a frozen bale of hay.
We stayed warm by huddling up on the sleigh and the occasional jog down the trail when one of us were thrown off. The end of the ride was topped off back at the barn where we enjoyed some hot chocolate and shared a few laughs.
It’s the simple things during the holidays that make the best memories for me: time spent with family and friends, enjoying each other’s company.
As the years pass by and lives get busier within our family, it is nice to know that Christmas traditions continue to bring us together.
