I'll Be Home For Christmas

The Light Showing Through the Bathroom Window,
Truckey Street

My mom suggested we go caroling this year before Christmas.  I grabbed at the chance.  I was glad when my brother Tim, his wife Susan, and my niece, Jenna, agreed to join us.  

I typed a few songs to print off on Mom's turtle of a computer.  Mom called a few of her dear friends to schedule our visits.  I grabbed my guitar and we headed for Keightly Street to get the Cronans so we could begin.

Our first stop was at Billy Pelon's house at the end of a winding, icy road.  Billy greeted us at the door wearing her colorful apron and sweet smile.  Her little house was modestly decorated with her personal, cherished, Christmas things. She had a red sweater on with a colorful polka-dotted collar folded over at her neck.  Billy is ninety-seven years old and she apologized for not being able to get around very easily without her cane.  She only sat for a minute with her arm around her little, old, gray dog while we sang our songs.  Her dog is blind and seemed to enjoy the company and songs as much as Billy. Most of the time Billy stood by Mom and sang the songs with us.  She said she's been cooped up in her house lately because of her icy driveway from our recent storm. She shared her beautiful tin box layered with delicate cookies from England with us. (She laughed as she told us the first layer was gone because she ate them) 

Our next stop was at Shirley Bengen's house by the Huron lakeside.  She greeted us with a smile and said she asked her neighbor, Mary Kaye, to join us so she could hear the music.  Sure enough, after a few minutes Mary Kaye come in with a young Krause girl to join us.  Singing carols while looking out Shirley's boat-house-like windows overlooking Lake Huron was very peaceful.  Her large, live, pine tree was simply decorated and had silver strands of tinsel hanging from each branch.  

She shared a story with us about my Aunt, June Cronan, and how they took a walk to Mackinac Island over the ice one winter when they were teenagers.  They were visiting some friends.  When they were returning from the island to go back to St. Ignace, Mr. Doud picked them up on a sled and took them back to Mackinac Island.  The ice had been broken up by the Chief Wawatam and people had fallen through there.  It was too dangerous to finish their walk even though they were almost there. She said the danger of a storm that blew in kept them on the island for two glorious days.  They stayed with friends and she recalls that was when she learned how to play cribbage.  

As we were leaving, Shirley made sure mom took a little decorated Christmas tin with her.  (Mom knew without looking that there were homemade caramels in it) 

Wagon Wheels in Backyard

Tim drove us to Evergreen Living Center for our last stop.  Mom's dear friend, (my God-mother)Yvonne, lives there.  When we walked into her room, she immediately asked us if we wanted some pop or coffee.  She had her little Christmas tree lit on top of the dresser and a large platter of Christmas cookies, candies and chocolates laid out for us.  Needing full-time nursing care, Yvonne is away from her home for the holidays.  But, she smiled, clapped and sang along while we were there visiting.  Before we left we didn't hesitate to share some of her treats. 

As we left Evergreen, we stopped and sang a few songs to the other residents.  Some of them were gathered at tables, some were wandering in their wheelchairs, and a few were just walking up and down the corridors. The memories of the music we sang was instant.  Most of them joined in either singing or moving to the music with wide grins.

When leaving and getting in the car, I had to run back inside for my guitar case I forgot in the hall.  At the entrance door I punched in the *234,  walked in and laughed at myself for "forgetting" the case.  I grabbed it from the hall and headed for the exit a second time and stopped to punch in *234 again so the security alarm wouldn't go off.  Gary Weiss, a resident at Evergreen, saw me coming with my guitar case and graciously opened the door wide for me.  The alarm sounded and I said, "Ut, oh".  Gary quietly said to me, "It doesn't matter." He smiled as he held the door open for me and we both watched the nurses scramble to turn off the alarm.

I get tears in my eyes as I recall the Christmas gifts I've been able to open up early this year.  I didn't try and "Peek" or "Snoop" or "Guess" ahead of time.  It would be impossible.  These gifts of family, love and kindness can never be wrapped or re-gifted.  They remind me of the gift in the song "The Drummer Boy".  The element of surprise will always be there.

Downtown St. Ignace,
Yoga Sign Frozen with Snow

Spending Christmas in St. Ignace in my childhood home has been full of surprises.  I hope you enjoy the song done by John Denver of The Little Drummer Boy.  I also added songs by Judy Garland and Johnny Cash.  Merry Christmas everyone.

Home, Looking Out the Kitchen Window

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13VvBcsR3b0&list=PLF11C66C7DE13ED56

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3tAItDOAuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo