Curious How I Spent December (the second half?) Let me Recap for You (and Me) before the New Year Takes Over. Thanks for your patience, 2018!

Greetings to Everybuddy Reading and Around the Globe (as Long as I'm thinking big)...and Around the Universe (why not cover the bases?) Hope everyone had a BeYouToFull December to Remember...(and a couple more days to fill in so get going if you've slept through the most of it.) I had some 'late nights' watching something online or chatting with family or even friends on the phone. Suddenly it was 'showtime' for someone near and dear to fly in from upstate New York for her holiday break (and help out in the area at least theoretically..) Then off to a Brooklyn Contra Dance (that very night after sleeping all day) was on her agenda while I got to have friends visit nearby rather than venture to playgroup.

They had to turn back due to cold winds and kids trying to walk (about 3 years of age) without a stroller protected with a plastic cover to give them a chance at breathing with such strong winds.That saved me from even trying to get out even with a good stroller in tow, the cold was brrrr...c-o-l-d. So hurrah for warm cozy times at home. With friends in nearby apartments, playdates could happen without even needing to put coats on (since we're in the same building complex, now that's very cool!)

After a whirlwind weekend of holiday faith and song concerts such as The Cadman Congregational Church in Brooklyn NY, I saw the dance performance held at the Brooklyn Dance Studio. Very talented and inspiring works. One audience member said it was better than what she'd seen at Alvin Ailey earlier that day with her 100 year old mother! No need to compare too much when speaking of amazing dance however.

These ventures and the venue of the Cadman Church would welcome donations of any size to show people appreciate they have kept the building intact and functioning as a church for 75 years come 2018! Small but dedicated is the congregation, as well as warm and welcoming.

They have a lovely large gathering space which hosts a few events during the year, so hopefully more caring community members and wider world folks could find a way to contribute time, talent and treasure when many other churches are finding it necessary to relocate and let go of their legacy property. Please think about who may need help in your local area and the wider world and donate in a way that works for you and your area. Perhaps more alliances of independent churches and programs could work together.

The book Change Here Now by Adam Brock and the Schumacher Institute speak to the Small is Beautiful notions..and when local 'Mom and Pop' or small groups cannot sustain themselves big business and more take over. 

Back to the holiday 'maze' of events and gatherings I got to attend. The highlights included selections from the Messiah at the LaFayette Presbyterian Church under the direction of Aaron Williams. This concert and another of a selection of seasonal music was well attended with refreshments following. I didn't make it to the Brooklyn Ballet...next year, or the other show at the Irondale Theatre...

A Christmas program at The Apostolic Church on LaFayette Ave in Brooklyn NY was a heartwarming set of songs by young children and then an intriguing play: The Great Church Robbery, with footage of outdoor scenes and planning by kids who wanted to take the music and noise out of the programs..when they showed up on the upper level of the church and started to enact their plan, one youth was stopped by the appearance of.. (wait for it) an angel!

That got him thinking twice about whether he should be naughty or nice. He decided on the latter and had to convince his friends to put all the stuff back. One did it so she wouldn't have to go to court! The next scene included the whole church being treated to the Christmas story with this converted kid leading the dance and rallying with smiles and joy, getting many laughs and hardy handclapping going.

I found my way from a nice small gathering on Christmas Eve with family in Brooklyn to good ol' Grand Central and a train on the New Haven Line to see family in CT for Christmas day where many more joined in (including the Brooklyn crew.) A few dozen of us enjoyed a lovely set of homemade dishes--ham, sweet potatoes, salads, lasagnas (including an eggplant one I didn't get to sample..next time), and many desserts, mostly cakes, cookies and pies.

A half hour or so of a simpler version of gift swapping grab bag (with someone pitching in a dozen $25 dollar food gift cards for those of us who were going to opt out but were happy enough to join in) landed everyone in the same room with some group focus and fun. I had gotten to attend a full house of a Christmas Eve service the night before.

The main message was that the birth of Jesus afforded everyone a version of a loving, gentle God, and someone we could see and relate to 'face to face' as compared to the way God related to people in prior centuries and millenia as in through prophets, signs and wonders. That is if one believes Jesus was the messiah (messenger and/or incarnation of the divine singular God.) I have covered in another post that given the history of our world we likely should extend more consideration for those who have suffered from the declaration of God and Jesus as the only way to believe. Too many have been persecuted or killed for not believing so that needs due respect.

In other moments on my day trip near the shore, I had hoped to see the ocean a bit or go for a walk on Christmas but it was a bit nippy and the timing didn't quite work out... next time or sooner I'm sure in warmer weather!

Finally I headed to the northwest corner of CT, getting off at the Torrington Route 8 Exit 44 by Burger King. I had decided to help a fellow out who was driving a one-eyed pick up truck in the slow lane by going in front of him and lighting the way. After a good half hour, and skipping my initial planned Exit in Thomaston to go up through Litchfield, I got off in Torrington, just after seeing an accident on the left in the Southbound land and one on the right in the Northbound lane. I almost stopped but saw there were about four cars or more that had pulled over and trusted the responders would be there momentarily. 

 I got to see another group of folks who were finishing up their visit, so that detour worked out nicely. I also feel in hindsight that by helping this truck by going slowly and lighting his way, that it kept me from coming into the accident zone with who knows what outcome. The cars were very damaged, as in scrunched and I saw one man lying on the road so prayed for all involved. I hope to send the families a card when I learn their names. I heard mixed messages on the news about whether there was a fatality, and most recently heard from a friend up this way that there was.

So again, prayers for all involved and the person who died if indeed that is the case. This is the kind of tough Christmas lesson we can all think on as the year unfolds. Living with a grateful heart for all we have and who is in our lives in our closer circles and wider ones, our fellow travellers on the roads we speed along or walk along as well as the journeys we take in life with our school, faith groups, community efforts and more. Let's be as careful and sensible as possible, realizing human error accounts for many accidents.

The gift of planning and reviewing options, driving in a safe, sober and sensible manner is important. Talking on a phone even without using one's hand in a car is a highly distracting activity (according to a report I heard recently) so again, Plan to do One thing at a time when it comes to making calls or driving, or walking away if someone is bothering you or if you are not sure what is happening in a social situation (large or small or even if alone, maybe change one's location or call someone.)

Thanks a bundle and all the best for rest and good times througout the year and coming decade. We are at a bit of incline in terms of needing more effort to enjoy the same kind of simple good times. Sharing the dreams, teams and reams of work that need doing can lighten our load and brighten our road for a safer, happier journey for one and all.