This morning my chest feels like squirrels have been nesting in it all fall. Friends had a little caroling party yesterday afternoon, and I thought it would be churlish of me to not join in with my favorites, despite the chest cold I’ve been incubating for a week. So I gave it a go, sang maybe three songs in my best attempt at a bass, chatted for the rest of the time and hoped the spiced Glugg would soothe my throat. Hey, it’s an old-fashioned recipe, right, and ipso factotum should be good for whatever ails you.
Then I drove a gaggle of kids downtown to church for the Lessons and Carols concert. Tensions were a little high in the car, as the kids did NOT appreciate being pulled out of a leisurely Sunday afternoon of play and cookies to put on a demanding performance. Not only would they have to sing two songs from the choir loft–one of which was in GERMAN! they pointed out to me–but it was also the debut of handchimes with this group. Handchime rehearsals had not been going well, and many threats had already been issued to only strike them during the proper songs. Yeah, and the choir director thinks you can sweep the tide back with a broom.
I had two concerns: Why no one quite appreciated my comments about “Willie and the Hand Chimes”, and whether I could get the Hawaiian carol “Mele Kalikimaka” out of my head. I’d been playing it as a kitschy half-joke all afternoon, and like a careless researcher handling infectious diseases, I became a victim too. And again, at the rather uptight, high-church place where we worship, no one appreciated when I sang that catchy little number. Check it out here, play it 17 times, and see for yourself.
Despite all that, it was a glorious evening. Maybe the current chest pain is a result of me swelling with pride as the Children’s Choir sang Bach’s “Wie Schon Leuchtet der Morgenstern.” When they finished, the adult choir on the main floor of the sanctuary smiled very satisfied smiles. A high compliment, which none of the kids could see.
I hope you can find time this season to take in a concert as beautiful as the one we heard last night. Make the time. Skip shopping for Great Aunt Tillie. Skip the Bears game. Well, maybe not the Bears game, but definitely the shopping. Peace. Cough. Peace.