Christmas is less than a week away. Still, somehow it seems like it's sneaking up on me. People keep asking, "Are you ready?" I guess the answer to that is more complicated than a yes or no.
If they mean have I done any shopping, then the answer is no. I really haven't put much thought into buying gifts and all the chaos that goes along with it. If they mean something else, well the answer is maybe. I've been doing Christmas Carols in my shows for a couple of weeks now. Not so much because I've been moved by them, but because it's sort of expected this time of year.
Then Sunday, something put me in more of a festive spirit. I was playing a gig at the Sierra Inn in Swain. There was a family who was having a private party in the big dining room. They were mostly adults, but there was a little girl with them who looked about 6 years old. She was dressed in a nice little holiday dress with fur collar and cuffs. She just looked Christmasy. I saw her pull up a stool and climb up it to examine the tray of cookies that was on a counter just above her natural reach. She seemed enchanted with the different shapes and colors. Later, I saw her eyes light up when I started to sing "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" She was just sort of bopping along to the music without a care in the world. Right then and there, the holiday spirit came over me. For all I know, this kid is a terrible brat, but at that instant, she was the epitomy of innocence. So much of Christmas has become tied up in what we get someone, or what someone gets us. It was heartwarming to see someone so joyous because of a song I was singing. She in turn gave me a gift she will never know she gave......the spirit of Christmas.
Posted by westguitar
at 10:19 AM EST