The Second Week of December Looks Like This

This week Christmas looks like this:

The tree has not fallen over again.  My obsessive need to rearrange ornaments and fill in that spot right there seems to be quieted at last.  Third time decorating, apparently, is the charm.  It leaves room for gazing at the glowing tree in the early mornings and at night.  I contemplate leaving it up longer, past January 1, but I won't.  I want to enjoy the seasonality of it, anticipate it again next year, savor it because I know it's not lasting.

Thanks to a comment by Brenda at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me, I remembered I have an Amazon Prime membership, and unlimited data and hey there's free music to listen to.  I sat here one cold evening all bundled up cozy and warm and gazed at the Christmas tree lights.  Per her recommendations I listened to On A Cold Winter Day.  The lovely old English traditional songs suited the dark room and glowing tree and the snug cocoon I'd made myself.  I enjoyed it so much I repeated one dark morning with a cup of coffee before John came in from work.   Some things are truly worth repeating.

John surprised me with tickets to the ballet.  It was held at The Grand Opera House in Macon...I love that they call it "The Grand Opera House"!   It has the sort of history that makes my blood pump hotter.  Built in 1884  as The Academy of Music it boasted what was then 'the largest stage in the Southeast.  It underwent renovations in 1904 and was renamed The Grand Opera House.  The stage saw all sorts of performers from minstrel to vaudeville and finally became a movie theater for some 20 years.  It came very near being demolished and turned into a parking lot but thankfully some good souls gathered to preserve it and it's history.

I looked around at the occupants of the upper balcony and the lower area and saw many a cell phone screen shining in the half darkness before the show.   I turned to the woman seated next to me and mused "What do you suppose the original audience of this place would think to see us sitting here some 120 years later with all these glowing things in our hands?"   She looked as bemused as I felt.  We had to put away our phones before the production began.

Of course, we saw The Nutcracker.   What else could it be in this season of the year?

John and I watched the cutest little girls who sat in the row in front of us.  We figure they must have been four or five and were taking ballet lessons already (I overheard one of their moms say).   One little girl showed promise already.  Perhaps one day I shall see her in a production of The Nutcracker.

John asked me on the way home how I'd liked it.  I couldn't have told him while I was watching because my eyes kept welling up with tears.  I think my most favorite of all is The Dance of the Snow Queen.  I can't help but cry as it's all breathtakingly beautiful.

Pay no attention to that silly man in the middle.  He's a local weatherman and put in a guest appearance as Mother Ginger in one of the performances.  Aren't those tiaras awesome?

I remember watching The Nutcracker on television at Granny's and plump little six year old that I was, I was convinced I could dance as those lovely ballerinas did.  Alas for never ending plumpness, weak ankles and lack of funds for dance lessons, lol.

Cookies were baked.  The Candy Jar was filled.   Magic Cookie Bars, Thumbprints, Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Chip cookies, Haystacks, Stove Top Cookies.  Hershey Kisses and Dove Promises and Peppermint Bark Chocolates.  All the requested ones that have stood the test of time over the year

Packages were mailed off to loved ones with sweet surprises inside.

Presents were wrapped and piled under the tree.

I watched "The Polar Express".  I'm pretty sure such an experience would have left me far more traumatized over Santa! 

The first candles of Channukah were lit .

I was busy, often from sun up until sundown.  I am very aware that after this week the holiday is over for us as far as all the busyness goes so I'm enjoying it all, every hectic moment of it.    Jingle Bells, Ho Ho Ho, as Josh sings it...