Life is beautiful in Hammertown!

The following note from a loyal reader in Hamilton is one of many special greetings from expatriate Saultbies that SooToday.com is publishing over the holidays.

If you're a former resident now living 200 or more kilometres away, SooToday.com would be delighted to post your 800-word-or-less message.

It's absolutely free, but the deadline is midnight on New Year's Eve.

For details, click here.

**************************** Hail all Saulites!

Many greetings from Hammertown!

I'm Chris Fink, one of the former (and still permanent) members of the Northland Barbershop Chorus (tenor).

I moved down to Hamilton in 2009 for a combination open heart surgery and love (the former went well - I walk 30 kilometres a week - the latter... I'm single again lol).

It's hard being away from home this year.

But it's an experience living down here with all of the waterfalls, the diversity of people, and the amount you can do.

It's a touch big though, lol.

I was and still am involved as the logistics coordinator/ volunteer with a street event called Open Streets Hamilton (www.openstreetshamilton.ca), promoting healthy living and sustainable transportation, among others.

It just won an award this past year for best event in the GTA - and it is repeatable anywhere, possibly an idea for Sault Ste. Marie? Hmmm...

I'm looking forward to school in 2012.

After my open-heart surgery, I made a decision to help people in need, to help them with the fear and anxiety that goes along with any kind of cardiac work.

Mohawk College has a cardiovascular technician program, a perfect fit for what I want and need, and after I get 90s in the courses I need, I'm looking forward to doing that and helping others with heart issues, and making sure they get what they need to go forward with their lives.

I'm likely going to head into acting here in 2011, after being encouraged by many people both here and in Sault Ste. Marie.

My involvement in the local theater is something I love, and doing this will not only get me out of my shell, it'll be destroyed, and me thinking To Be or Not To B (flat or sharp, eh Kev?).

I should be back in March for the 50th anniversary of the Northland Chorus - the Sault's top chorus along with the Sweet Adelines.

I look forward to the music, the friends and getting out of a 500,000 city and seeing more of the environment around me - even if there is a lot more snow, I welcome it!

To everyone in my hometown, I hope you all have a great Christmas and Happy New year.

I wish the best for Sault Ste. Marie as I keep my eyes open on Sootoday.com - nothing like it has been repeated in Hamilton and I wish there was something like it here!

Indeed, life is an adventure.

Well lived, there is love with hope.

The impossible seems within reach and with knowing that each moment could mean everything - life is that much more beautiful.

Have a fantastic Christmas, Sault Ste. Marie!!!

- Chris Fink, Hamilton

************************* Look who else has written to us this year

大家好! Happy holidays from Taiwan! Snowed in for Christmas. In England Christmas 400 kilometres southeast of Beijing Thanks for the support while our daddy has been away Life is beautiful in Hammertown!