The week of Christmas has always felt sacred and special to me. When I was young it was filled with mystery and mysticism. The baby in the manger, angels, and Santa Claus were full of magic and curiosity. I delighted in the stories and twinkling lights and special songs. That last few days before Christmas and until New Years just felt like a space where no one could intrude on family and personal space. It still feels that way to some extent. Everything shuts down mostly, and folks focus on what really matters for a few days. It’s actually a relief in today’s world where we are bombarded with news and announcements every day. I’m not sure what still makes it feel that way for me. Perhaps I buy into the training I got from my childhood when I was taught by the culture, the church, and from my parents that it was a special time of peace and stillness. That was related to both the story of the baby Jesus and the mystery of Santa Claus. They both were powerful and seemingly unknowable. Maybe it’s because it has been a tradition going back to before Christianity when the solstice had a real effect on peoples’ psyches with the shorter days and interesting alignments. Or maybe it’s just because the days are short and the nights are long so there’s more time to ponder and contemplate life. However I look at it there is plenty of reason for the sacred feeling I still get as we approach Christmas. It does fade pretty quickly once Christmas is over though, so that is why I still encourage people to let themselves get into it while it’s here. I hope you are doing just that, and I do wish you a Merry Christmas and the best of holidays.
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What have I been up to?
I had 14 senior facilities last week, and it was a wild ride of Christmas cheer in every way. There were parties and special moments galore. I love getting to play for these folks.
My Wednesday online show was doing Christmas hymns, and there was so much deep spirit shared. So many of those songs are favorites and really get to that sacred quiet place that Christmas is so good at.
Friday night I played for the state legislators again at the CSG West legislative academy graduation at the Broadmoor, and it was so much fun getting to entertain these folks and then have them sing along and join me for a bunch of tunes after the graduation. I really enjoy playing for them each year.
Sunday my online show was favorites and requests, and it was a nice mix of Christmas and regular songs with even a Gordon Lightfoot song that I had never played before. It was so sweet!
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What am I put to this week?
I have 7 senior facilities scheduled for this week although one adult daycare cancelled due to low attendance on Friday. I will enjoy getting to play for these folks in this sacred week.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Christmas favorites on Christmas Eve, and I’m sure there’ll be some repeated songs from previous Christmas shows. This will be a catch-all of every kind of Christmas song meant to make anyone who tunes in happy and ready for a good Christmas Day. Come on out if you have the evening free and would like some Christmas cheer.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I’m sure there’ll be some good songs as we approach New Year’s Eve and all the excitement it generates as well. You’re always welcome to tune in. I will also be doing a New Year’s Eve online show, and I’ll write more about it next week.
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That’s it for this week. I haven’t mentioned it before this week, but Jen and I do make wall calendars each year mostly for ourselves of the best of the sunrise pictures I take each morning. If you think you might like to have my pictures gracing your wall I would be humbly honored. They are printed on demand and can be ordered here -
https://www.lulu.com/search?page=1&q=Tom+Munch+&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and are healthy and happy.
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of Christmas favorites
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, December 24, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, December 28, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
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