20-24Dec
This week is the usual whirlwind of Phsyio sessions, while the locals around us make final preparations for Christmas. I’ve managed to finish 97% of the prep for our family Christmas (which we’ll celebrate here in TO on Boxing Day) but haven’t really made a dent in the rest of the prep. I usually have our Christmas Newsletter finished and ready to send; along with gifts and parcels heading east to our family & friends there. I’ve only accomplished a fraction of that purchasing and putting together so call Mom to let her know they should expect a parcel later in January.
My sister texts me a couple of photos from NB - their world definitely looks like a Currier & Ives postcard now! A major dump of snow has everything looking pristine...and cold! While here, we are still looking out at greenery - not just the coniferous trees, I mean the grass too!
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| Toronto, ON |
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| Fredericton, NB |
After Physio, we head to the Transplant Ward - yes, Jess is now in a “regular room” - to visit for a little while and then we all head to the food court for supper!
21Dec
Friday brings Roger! Jess’ Dad arrives and will be here to celebrate Christmas with her and Mom, Carla.
22Dec
On Saturday, we all head to the Zizian’s for the evening. Jim is cooking dinner, so we each puruse the menu and make our selection from the website he has created. A short while later, a gentleman shows up at the door with bags and containers of chicken, salad, ribs, perogies, rolls, fries...I think it was very kind of Swiss Chalet to give Jim all the bags and take away containers to pack this feast in!
A night of fun ensues - including a Skype with Jess who is still in hospital, and missing the fun of beating everyone at Dominoes.
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| Carman, Roger, Carla, Jim, Susan, Derek, Kristy & Me |
23Dec
On Sunday, my sister-in-law, Joyce and niece, Carrie, treat me to join them in a lovely tradition. Today is Carrie’s birthday and several years ago they started attending the Sing-Along Messiah together to celebrate the occasion and the approach of Christmas. This particular event, hosted by Tafelmusik at Massey Hall, sells out every year. This lovely building, a venerable dame on Toronto’s streetscape, was built in 1894 in Toronto’s Garden District. Sitting on Victoria and Shuter streets, its the perfect historic setting for such an event.
This is the 26th anniversary of the performance and the director, Ivars Taurins (dressed as Herr Handel himself), asks us to stand in turn as he calls out the 5 year increments for the performance. Some in the audience, like me, are attending for the first time, while others have been coming since the first concert!
Tafelmusik and it’s invited soloists carry the piece, there is no question, but the entire audience participates as the chorus throughout the performance and it is truly a wonderful experience. It took me back to my high school years of performing with our music director, Tom Morrison (to whom I owe my first trip to Toronto). There were several times when I stopped singing, closed my eyes and just enjoyed the joyous sound of the other 2,764 people singing around me!
A big Happy Birthday shout out to Carrie, and a very grateful thank you to both Carrie and Joyce for including me in this lovely afternoon!
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