We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas day. On Christmas Eve we went to Epiphany Church's Children's Mass. Kathy belongs to that parish now. She had been advised by her friends that an earlier arrival would assure us of choice seats. Mass was at 5:30 and we arrived at 4PM. Much to our chagrin we were the ONLY car in the parking lot. (By we, I mean Paul, Karen and I.) Paul tried a few locations and finally settled on one that suited him. We sat for awhile and then Kathy and Scott and the kids pulled into the lot. Paul jumped out of the car and did the official gestures that direct cars to the appropriate parking place. It so happened that it was right next to ours.
We proceded into the church, which was pretty much empty, Maybe a guitarist,trumpeter, pianist or so and we chose our seats. We took up a whole row of seats (10 chairs).
Gradually other people were drifting in, we were somewhat dismayed to see quite a few of them with soft drinks from Mc Donalds, Wendy's etc. and we were downright stunned to see one group eating BigMacs! around 5 o'clock the church rapidly filled up. There was quite a bit of joviality and Christmas greetings, and 'long time no see' conversations going on around us. It was the Childrens' Mass so naturally there many children.
As the time moved on toward 5:30, darling little Angels ran up the aisle to get in their places. Hark, we didn't hear anybody singing because there was such a hub bub. Soon, though, the sign was given that Mass was about to begin and quiet fell just as outside the glass walls we could see twilight falling also. The priest
had a lovely singing voice and the ability to enthrall all of the children with the ceremony and yet engage the adults in the spirit of things as well.
Their musicians played the traditional Carols and the adult choir,children's choir and the congregation accompanied them. The service ended about 7 o'clock and we went out into the cold winter night and got into our cars in their premier parking places and left for Kristin and Tim's house for a delightfully delicious Christmas Eve dinner.
I could not help but wonder what some of the old timers back in the day would think of that ceremony. My brother,Joe, who left the church for a period of time and came back later said the church he left was not the one he came back to. When he heard guitars at Mass,he referred to them as Hoot-en-ninny Masses. We had to remind him that when they first played organs in church the congregation referred to those as Circus Masses. Time marches on.
When I described the experience to Brian he came up with an idea for next year. he said we could all tail-gate, get a small grill and throw some bugers on and go from there.
I really did enjoy it and thank Kathy for inviting me. I have heard so much about Epiphany and have wanted to go there for sometime. I hope to go back again. It is a beaautiful place.
Tomorrow I'll give you a rundown on Christmas Day. Ciao
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Discussion Forum
I guess I will send e-mails to the group of out of towners that might be interested in getting into the discussion page again.
I recall the first discussion page we had, for quite sometime I kept up a cyber conversation with myself. Most of the time I knew I was communicating with myself but there were a few occasions that I was unaware! As I recall, I also kept talking to article #68 or #32 and so forth. It takes awhile for me to get into the swing of things that require, what is for me, high level technology ability. It may take awhile for me to get on to this new system but perseverence( and Gregg's help) will pull me through!
4 shopping days left till Christmas. Ho,Ho,Ho! Could you give me directions to the Mall? Ciao,ciao
I recall the first discussion page we had, for quite sometime I kept up a cyber conversation with myself. Most of the time I knew I was communicating with myself but there were a few occasions that I was unaware! As I recall, I also kept talking to article #68 or #32 and so forth. It takes awhile for me to get into the swing of things that require, what is for me, high level technology ability. It may take awhile for me to get on to this new system but perseverence( and Gregg's help) will pull me through!
4 shopping days left till Christmas. Ho,Ho,Ho! Could you give me directions to the Mall? Ciao,ciao
Sunday, December 16, 2007
New Forum
I just saw as I turned to the Web site that Gregg is working on a new family forum page. I tried to figure out how to use it but I didn't do too well. I'll learn it eventually. I am really glad to see that we can communicate again as we did before. Get everyone in on the discussions, news, questions and snide remarks! I am ready for bed right now and hope to get with it tomorrow when I get home from school. Give it a try, you guys! Ciao
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Comment on Comment
GREAT! Kathy, you will have to update your blog and tell us all about this fun adventure. Abbey and Gus are so lucky to get to do this. It will be a memorable occasion. Have a nice hot chocolate and sit and admire it when you finish trimming!
One year Grandpa and Mike went into the woods to cut down a tree for us. Mike still talks about it. They went into the natural woods, not a tree farm, and they found so many beautiful trees that it was hard to choose. They looked and looked and finally decided that since we lived in an apartment, they would have to perhaps pick the smallest tree and not one of the tall, bushy, giants of the forest. They chose the smallest tree they could find and chopped it down. They were very proud of their choice, though small and humble looking, among the bigger trees it suited their purpose.
They brought it home and we all admired it as they took it from the trunk of the car. They hoisted it in through the front hall and Lo and Behold it was too tall to stand up in our living room! Grandpa sawed off a few feet and it was still too tall,another foot or so came off and now it could stand up but when the tree stand was attached to the bottom ...it was still too tall. This time the cut was made at the top. But guess what?
When we placed it in the corner that we had decided to put it in it extended all the way out into the middle of the room. Out came the saw again and the limbs on the side facing the wall had to be trimmed ,then trimmed and finally pretty much removed. This was in the early years of our lives together and we had a pretty meager selection of lights and ornaments. We put them on what was left of the tree and gathered round and admired it. It may well be the most memorable Christmas tree of all my four score and three years. It WAS, they kept insisting, the smallest tree in the woods. Relativity, ya' know? Ciao,ciao.
One year Grandpa and Mike went into the woods to cut down a tree for us. Mike still talks about it. They went into the natural woods, not a tree farm, and they found so many beautiful trees that it was hard to choose. They looked and looked and finally decided that since we lived in an apartment, they would have to perhaps pick the smallest tree and not one of the tall, bushy, giants of the forest. They chose the smallest tree they could find and chopped it down. They were very proud of their choice, though small and humble looking, among the bigger trees it suited their purpose.
They brought it home and we all admired it as they took it from the trunk of the car. They hoisted it in through the front hall and Lo and Behold it was too tall to stand up in our living room! Grandpa sawed off a few feet and it was still too tall,another foot or so came off and now it could stand up but when the tree stand was attached to the bottom ...it was still too tall. This time the cut was made at the top. But guess what?
When we placed it in the corner that we had decided to put it in it extended all the way out into the middle of the room. Out came the saw again and the limbs on the side facing the wall had to be trimmed ,then trimmed and finally pretty much removed. This was in the early years of our lives together and we had a pretty meager selection of lights and ornaments. We put them on what was left of the tree and gathered round and admired it. It may well be the most memorable Christmas tree of all my four score and three years. It WAS, they kept insisting, the smallest tree in the woods. Relativity, ya' know? Ciao,ciao.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Seasonal Yard Art and Ramblings
When you drive around the area in the day light hours you see deflated Santas, Reindeer, and Snowmen looking mighty dead on the lawns. You also see cheap, (I think)plastic snowmen, elves, Santas and Rudolfs looking rather garish standing out there in the cold light of day. When the sun goes down the dead Santas, reindeer and Snowmen get their re-inflated bodies up off the lawn and bask in the flood lights aimed at them from the near-by shrubs The plastic figures seem to be lighted from within and they don't look nearly so chintzy as they did. The nightly display of lighted icicles cascading over the eaves and in some cases the Santa complete with sleigh and reindeer cavorting on the roof tops remind us all that 'Tis the season'...
I've seen a few Nativity scenes on the lawns, competing with the mythical characters too. Nary an elf in my yard!
I do enjoy seeing the decorated trees and the brightly lighted wreathes and especially like the scent of pine trees. However; more and more artificial trees are on the scene these days. When I think of the excitement of shopping for the tree, bringing it home, getting out the ornaments and lights and doing all the tasks necessary to complete the tree decorating and then sitting down with just the lights of the tree to transform our living room into a magic place, I think about what the families are missing that stick plastic limbs into a plastic trunk or worse just pull the tree out of the basement or attic and strip it of its cover and plug it in and what to their wondering eyes should appear but a genuine plastic tree. Their kids will never know the special pervasive aroma of the tree in the house or the shock and awe of the tree crashing over to the floor, lights, ornaments, angel-topper and all, the daily sound of the needles dropping to the floor, the hope that the tree will not be needle-less by New Years. Taking the tree down, packing away the ornaments till next year, taking the bricks out that were helping the tree stay upright, the trail of icicles, needles etc. that were left on the carpet that persist in hangting on, sometimes till June. Still, wonderful memories!
I didn't take the lights off my fake ficus tree last year, I meant to, but...it was pretty easy to plug it in this week and pull out my blue ceramic tree and plug it in and guess what? With all the lights out except for the two imposters, my living room looks so festive and calm. I can enjoy that while I entertain my memories of Christmas's past! Ciao!
I've seen a few Nativity scenes on the lawns, competing with the mythical characters too. Nary an elf in my yard!
I do enjoy seeing the decorated trees and the brightly lighted wreathes and especially like the scent of pine trees. However; more and more artificial trees are on the scene these days. When I think of the excitement of shopping for the tree, bringing it home, getting out the ornaments and lights and doing all the tasks necessary to complete the tree decorating and then sitting down with just the lights of the tree to transform our living room into a magic place, I think about what the families are missing that stick plastic limbs into a plastic trunk or worse just pull the tree out of the basement or attic and strip it of its cover and plug it in and what to their wondering eyes should appear but a genuine plastic tree. Their kids will never know the special pervasive aroma of the tree in the house or the shock and awe of the tree crashing over to the floor, lights, ornaments, angel-topper and all, the daily sound of the needles dropping to the floor, the hope that the tree will not be needle-less by New Years. Taking the tree down, packing away the ornaments till next year, taking the bricks out that were helping the tree stay upright, the trail of icicles, needles etc. that were left on the carpet that persist in hangting on, sometimes till June. Still, wonderful memories!
I didn't take the lights off my fake ficus tree last year, I meant to, but...it was pretty easy to plug it in this week and pull out my blue ceramic tree and plug it in and guess what? With all the lights out except for the two imposters, my living room looks so festive and calm. I can enjoy that while I entertain my memories of Christmas's past! Ciao!
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