Christmas 2017

Mary in w burka?

The hard truth is that this Christmas was a working Christmas, like all those I had back in the States in my pre-Carcassonne life.  They were not fun then and it was neither fun nor joyous this year.  For church musicians, it's a season of rehearsals, usually culminating at a big Christmas Eve service.  At least I felt like I had accomplished something at the end of all that work, all those years--but I cannot say that about this year's efforts.

From Rwanda

From Mexico

I suffer from anxiety when I am placed in situations for which I an unprepared or under-rehearsed.  I have never before been in a situation that was as full of both qualities as the one in which I found myself this year.  I got sort of "roped" into a choir at the Protestant church where I have been playing the hymns for the past couple of years....It really was a "bait and switch" maneuver, one from which I could not extract myself with grace and dignity.  

Loved the shadows this one cast

Ultimate simplicity

I will not provide all of the gory details, but suffice it to say that I am beyond glad that this Christmas is behind me.  I have such a bad taste about it that I am tempted to take down and put away the tree, and it's only the day after Christmas!  

Miniatures

In the middle of all the angst and the frustration and anger, I managed to find the kernel of Christmas joy that I needed.  I spoke with a long lost second cousin who is having a hard time during this holiday season especially, having lost his wife of 54 years.  He was in noticeably better spirits after our conversation than he was at the outset, and quite frankly, so was I.  And in giving some human contact, some empathy and a listening ear, I was able to find my Christmas spirit once again.  The tree is not being disassembled just yet.

Larger version

And in the spirit of Christmas, some photos of the collection of creches at the little Catholic church around the corner.   

Scene from the "village "

One her balcony

Watching, waiting