It's been a quiet week here in Gracerock out on the edge of civilization
Another Christmas has come and gone.
We didn't quite make it to the Messiah sing-along and we didn't go caroling in the streets. We did sing at the town Christmas tree lighting ceremony and at 7:30 mass Christmas eve. But there is always that list of things that you really meant to do.
For Christmas Alex gave Chris his original Yamaha Guitar - the one that their Aunt Jennifer had given Alex a couple of years ago. This is the guitar that Jen used to play while she and I tried to work out the harmony parts to Scarborough Fair on the front porch in Johnsville so many years ago. Alex has since upgraded to an acoustic electric and so has passed along the venerable Yamaha to his brother.
From the day he was born, Alex has lived in his older brother's shadow. Chris would dominate their very close relationship in a way that only a brother can - rarely physical, but always mental. So now as the years have passed and they have each excelled in their own areas, Chris is in unfamiliar territory. How to ask for help without giving up his dominant role. With a very quiet paternal prod, Alex let him off the hook. They've been sitting on the couch for the past hour - Alex as the instructor and Chris the very willing student. "Your assignment is chapters one thru sixteen before tomorrow's lesson". Aaaah the magic of Christmas.
Tomorrow while Chris is on the couch still recovering from the extraction of four wisdom teeth and working on lessons 1 thru 16, Alex will be participating in his first non-school tennis tournament. Tennis. Play tennis, watch tennis, think about tennis. It's what he likes to do. So now is his big chance. He'll play singles against a total stranger. In high school he has been playing doubles with his friend Joey Alvarez - so in the past when they have lost, it has always been due to the one that the other guy let thru. But not tomorrow. It's singles and all up to him.
We've moved Christmas dinner at Gracerock to Boxing Day. This will allow Jennifer and Louis to join us. John Hasty will also make his annual Christmas appearance. Over the past twenty years John has joined us for way more Christmas dinners than he has missed. And it is always a pleasure to host him. Darrin and the little boys will be off at grandma Evelyn's house so Cathie has requested that a car and driver pick her up. I think she intends to chill out.
So that's it. Even though the Christmas season officially lasts for another 12 days the overwhelming message from retailers over the past couple of months have left most of us worn out and ready to move on. However, I think that Big Bird said it best. "Keep Christmas with you, all through the year".
I was hoping that you would sing your heart out! Glad to hear you did. I was in the midst of a novel back to you, when POOF...where did it go? It's floating in cyber space. So, I shall commence to reconstruct now that the "day" has passed. Best wishes to you and yours.
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