Saturday, December 24, 2011

Getting into the Spirit of the Season

Last night we did something I haven't done for over 40 years, and my husband has never done!  We went caroling door to door with Kailyn's boyfriend, Nick, and his family, along with his best friend Willie's family. For the past few years, these two families have caroled in Nick's neighborhood.  This year, we were invited to come along.


My husband wasn't too excited about the singing part.  While he loves music of all kinds, he isn't into singing.  In fact, it is a well known fact that his family is notorious for poor singing voices. (He planned to mouth the words!) I was feeling tired and achy, and didn't want to leave the house. Neither of us were looking forward to wandering the streets in the cold! But, we'd been invited and so we went.


We had an unbelievably good time!  Most houses opened their doors and greeted us warmly, but there were a few that really stood out, and changed my "bah humbug" attitude.  One of the first houses we went to a woman answered the door, holding a little dog.  When we finished the first song, we looked up to see her crying.  With tears flowing, she said, "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me!  I really needed this tonight and you made my year!"  As we walked away, heartily singing, "We wish you a merry Christmas . . ." all of us were humbled by her reaction.  


Amazingly, she wasn't the only one who was moved by our amateur attempts at Christmas cheer.  The evening chill was forgotten. My husband forgot to mouth the words.  His voice blended right in! More than once I saw glistening eyes, and frequently we were rousingly applauded.  We interrupted a birthday party at one home, so we sang "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy!
  
Being a Friday night, many houses either had no people home, or didn't want to be bothered.  Yet, others were thrilled to hear us, and offered us treats and hot chocolate!  We were tickled when we were joined by two gentlemen with guitars at one of the the last stops.  We sang several songs with them on their porch, then they insisted we come in.  There were ten of us, so we were a bit crowded in their living room, but we continued to sing while being accompanied on the guitars and it was so fun!  They also sent us on our way with our choice from a big box of See's chocolates!


Never in a million years would I have expected to spend the Friday night before Christmas with our daughter, her boyfriend, his best friend (with his sister), and all the parents, walking around a neighborhood singing Christmas songs! 


It was the right thing to do!


Merry Christmas, one and all!

13 comments:

  1. That sounds like you had a really great time! I've never went caroling either. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

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  2. Merry Christmas Sandi. I am glad you had a beautiful time caroling. I haven't been in a long time myself. My son and daughter went Wednesday with their youth group.

    I hope you have a great Christmas day.

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  3. Sometimes when we feel least keen to participate, we end up being delightfully and pleasantly surprised. So glad your evening turned out so enjoyably. Hope Christmas day is even more wonderful. Big hug xoxo

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  4. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Sandi. I think you may have bought a tear to my eye too - I'm so sentimental these days. How wonderful for your daughter to have those she loves all involved and happy together.
    Truly Sandi I think you are wonderful with challenges you've faced, and I wish you all the best over this Christmas season and coming New Year. x

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  5. I am having trouble seeing to write this, as you've brought tears to my eyes, too. I didn't read this yesterday because I was beside myself with the theft. But today I am grateful for all the wonderful dear friends I've made here on line, and how much you bring to my life. Thank you, dear Sandi, for being such a good friend! Merry Christmas.

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  6. I haven't been caroling in a few years. Usually I went when the church youth were going and I was in charge...our experiences were very similar to yours..most everyone loved it and a few were having hard times, or just lost a loved one and really needed the visit. We forget that many times we are the angels that God sends to each other. You were all angels that night! Merry Christmas and my wish for you is wonderful health in 2012!

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  7. I'm so jealous! What a fun thing to do. I used to do this all the time but Phil is like your husband. So I gave it up a long time ago. Maybe next year though I'll get a group together.

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  8. That was clearly a wonderful and rewarding experience. Happy New Year to you and your family x

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  9. sounds like something my hubby would do for the spirit of it all. happy you had fun and to bring people so much joy and to move people like you've done is a blessing in itself.

    I've never gone caroling but I've had carolers come to my door and it is wonderful! perhaps that is something I should try and arrange for next year

    thank you for sharing and for your visit to my blog. looking forward to reading more from you
    take care!

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  10. What fun! When I was a young teen, I rounded up the kids of the neighborhood and we would carol around while collecting food for the food bank. We got great results and every year, more and more people would stalk up canned goods in preparation of our coming. We made great connections in our neighborhood and filled my mom's car with food for those who needed it. I hadn't thought about it in a while but your post reminded me. Thank you.

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  11. What a wonderful way to start the holidays! And a great life lesson: when we're willing to push through, miracles happen.

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  12. Dear Sandi,
    And a wonderful time was had by all! This posting brought back wonderful memories to me of caroling during the forties. A group of us--all school friends--would meet at a house in town--I lived in the country--and then we'd carol for many blocks.

    As with you, the people who came to the door sang along with us and cried and laughed and gave us cocoa and cookies. When we finished caroling we'd go back to the house where we'd started and drink wassail and sit around on the floor before the fireplace remembering other Christmases we'd done the same. Thanks for brining back this lovely memory.

    Peace.

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