Tis' the season -crowded coffee shops.
I've been thinking about two themes lately. Two themes concerning Christmas. The first, old Christmas, and the second being new or modern Christmas. When I think of Christmas in the old days I think of horse drawn carriages, top hats, warm victorian homes with fireplaces or wood stoves lit. I think of candles on trees or popcorn strings, of carolers singing, and lastly of snow, lots of it. The most interesting site i've ever seen that kind of brought me back in time to old Christmas was when I did this parade down in South Jersey in a town called Woodstown. It was a night parade if I remember correctly. John St. Peter and I had gone down to Woodstown to meet up with their high school band director Steve White who was also a fifer in the Mifflin Guard, sick of playing with bad musicians. The three of us along with some other fellas performed in various places around town that night. We performed on porches of victorian houses, most of which were open to the townspeople. Inside them the women exhibited their baked goods and there was caroling by people in top hats outside as well. There was even a small union encampment put on by a new jersey regiment somewhere in town. They had a blazing fire going which we warmed our hands by. It was strange to see an entire town involved in such festivities. The scene was like something Charles Dickens described himself. It was magical.
In contrast new or modern Christmas seems to mean a little less than it did in those days at least that's just my observation. Still, there's something that draws me to modern Christmas as well. When I think of modern Christmas I think of New York city apartments with Christmas parties in progress, wine and cheese being served, warm sweaters and good food. I think of the giant tree at Rockefeller center and the Macy's christmas display. Though it might not surprise my friends, I think of crowded coffee shops too. Last year on Christmas Eve' I was anchored off of the island of Riatea in French Polensie. It was raining and quiet on our boat The Captain's Fancy. We had a christmas meal of black beans and rice along with some spam I think. I have to check my journal to be exact, yet it was something along those lines. We sat in the cockpit of the boat with the lights out listening to Beethoveen, and talking. It was a lonely Christmas Eve' but it was different. No snow. The next day I watched kids swim in the rain and paddle along on what looked like surf or boogie boards. They seemed poor but happy. They knew nothing of play stations or such material things that kids here focus on. They enjoyed the ocean as they do everyday. Still it's good to be home on Christmas this year. Home and at peace.
In contrast new or modern Christmas seems to mean a little less than it did in those days at least that's just my observation. Still, there's something that draws me to modern Christmas as well. When I think of modern Christmas I think of New York city apartments with Christmas parties in progress, wine and cheese being served, warm sweaters and good food. I think of the giant tree at Rockefeller center and the Macy's christmas display. Though it might not surprise my friends, I think of crowded coffee shops too. Last year on Christmas Eve' I was anchored off of the island of Riatea in French Polensie. It was raining and quiet on our boat The Captain's Fancy. We had a christmas meal of black beans and rice along with some spam I think. I have to check my journal to be exact, yet it was something along those lines. We sat in the cockpit of the boat with the lights out listening to Beethoveen, and talking. It was a lonely Christmas Eve' but it was different. No snow. The next day I watched kids swim in the rain and paddle along on what looked like surf or boogie boards. They seemed poor but happy. They knew nothing of play stations or such material things that kids here focus on. They enjoyed the ocean as they do everyday. Still it's good to be home on Christmas this year. Home and at peace.