Christmas Thoughts on I-5

Spent the day driving to Cathedral City on the 24th. Christmas Eve. On an interstate with hundreds of other drivers on their merry ways to celebrate or shop.

Christmas is a bittersweet time of year for lots of people; my mom's birthday was on December 17th and so the holiday season was always in full swing when she was alive. Many fond and warm memories made the drive pleasant...

Remembering Christmas pasts
While driving down the Interstate

Hoping the smiles would last

And happy feelings not abate

Remembering Mama and Tia and those Christmas times
Going downtown to places no longer there...

The Great Big E- The Emporium

Riding roof rides at the holiday fun fair

Ice skaters magically dancing in that small auditorium

Going to St. Boniface to see the living Nativity

The only things alive were the sheep and lambs

Everyone was welcome- no exclusivity

Christmas traffic colorful- even the noisy jams

The day home was special- at least for me

I didn't know I came from a poor family

Mama was offered a Christmas tree

But she always refused- she would get one for me

The gifts that were given to us

Were not from the then fancy places

Such as Macy's or City of Paris

But rather Weinstein's or Newberry's

How I miss those days!

Those years singing in the choir

At good old Mission Dolores

Vocal talents Mr. Bergman would help us acquire

Especially during the holidays season

"C is for the Christ child in a manger born
"H is for holy...
"R is for royal
"I is for infant
"S is for shepherds

"T is for...

"M is for Mary, mother adored
"A is for Angels...

"S is for...

Alas, the words escape me, but this song made
Midnight Christmas Mass even special

There are other thoughts I would love to share

But in this era of speed and less nostalgia

Who would really care?

Anyway, I arrived at Cathedral City in the early afternoon and am currently spending the holiday with my dear friends. I was able to go to Midnight Mass at St. Louis Church. I must say that it was a wonderfully, warm feeling I got at this welcoming parish. The choir sang beautifully, and the Spanish singers were a tad off key, but reminded me of a fiesta where singing from the heart is all that matters. I did start to cry during "Silent Night." As I said, Christmas is bittersweet...I miss my Mom and Tia and those Christmases of long ago. I missed spending Christmas with my bay area families. It will be a new tradition to spend Christmas in the Palm Springs area.

Well, that is all for now. When you read this, I hope you recall your favorite Christmases; the special people in your lives; the gifts that made your eyes open with imagination waiting in the wings.

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Keep Christmas in your hearts 24/7 365/12!

Until the next posting...

"And I need a little angel

Sitting on my shoulder

Need a little Christmas now"