A ¯ about Christmas
2015
Okay, here it is. For
the second year in a row,
I’m sitting down to write a Christmas greeting having
just lost someone dear.
So, how to write
a Merry Christmas greeting without it becoming a sad story? I am clueless.
Last year, I just did the minimum at Christmas and struggled
to send the annual greeting to a few.
This year, well, it really isn’t better.
Most of you already know that Dad passed away in November 2014 and now
oldest brother, Gus, died this year, also in November. The patriarchs of two families are now
missing during this holiday time of year.
To say it is a blow, is an understatement to be sure. I can’t pretend that I can see a silver
lining, but I do feel that the holidays bring a special joy that seems to
somehow lift my spirits. For me, it is
the sparkle of decorations and lights, the sounds of children’s squeals in the
stores as they see their special ‘want’, the traditions of tree, presents and
cards, the many greetings from friends far and near, a surprise box of cookies
& treats arriving in the mail, and most of all, the familiar music that
lifts my spirit and brings a smile.
I do believe that music has the power to take us away, to a special
place somewhere in our memory. I
remember watching Dad as he listened to a harp player in the family room at the
hospital. His face changed, I felt he
was transported to a different place.
Watching Dad & Ev listen to Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights was
much the same. They tapped a toe to the
rhythm but maybe their minds and hearts were visiting a day of dancing in their
younger years. I can well remember
hearing Gus’s voice singing Go Tell It on
the Mountain in the high school choir years ago and more recently, belting
out a Danish hymn, in phonetically awful Danish, just to make my Aunt Ane Marie
smile. When I hear Silent Night, I
always think of sitting in the church at West Denmark
on Christmas Eve, sentimental tears often spring to my eyes. Music seems to have the power to heal,
soothe, recall a specific memory, inspire, relax, excite, and maybe even change
our lives.
I’m taking piano lessons and I learn a little each week
about the theory of music and I learn volumes about my ability to focus, to enjoy
the process of learning and to improve my piano skills.
Not everyone knew that Dad played the violin as a young man;
I never did see him play. One day, when Dad was 90, he worked on tuning
this old violin, and in the end decided it needed repairs. He reminisced about his youth and playing in
the West Denmark orchestra with friends and
relatives. Dad had carried this violin with
him through his 92 years and finally it ended up with me when we said goodbye
to Dad last year. It was always Dad’s
wish to have this violin be played again, if possible. So, last summer, the violin was restored to
good working condition. The violin
expert tells us that this instrument was crafted around 1900 and now, 115 years
later, it continues to make beautiful sounds & Dad’s wish has come true.
My card photo, Dad’s the violin upon return from the
restoration, is thanks to my niece-in-law, Camilla. Nephew Ryan & Camilla’s daughter, Milena,
is now taking lessons using Dad’s old violin.
It is very sweet to know that this violin is once again making music.
So, just for a bit, let’s turn off the news, and turn on the
music. We can enjoy the peace of mind that the music
of the season spreads. Let your hearts
be light, be home for Christmas if only in your dreams, deck the halls, roll
out the barrel (whoops), and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Click below to hear my Christmas piano project.
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