All the best to everyone who visits this forum.

I know that this can be the greatest time of year, and for some, the worst.

I had a casual 10 second chat on the phone with someone the other day. This normally cheerful fellow was polite as usual but there was just the touch of something, a note was slightly off. I heard it during the call and felt it after. I paused to ponder and then called back.

I asked if he was okay.

He wasn't. During this time of good will and good cheer and good times with family and friends, he was most reminded of the tragic events in his life that have happened at this time of year.

We talked a bit. He thanked me for hearing him through the holiday din.

As musicians and performers, we have a trained ear for all kinds of things. Listen well this season. You will be rewarded with opportunities to give in ways that will surprise and delight you; in ways that will enrich your life.

Best of the Season to all.

ST

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ST,

Thank you for sharing your spirit with us, ST... it can be an emotional time of year even for those of us who haven't yet suffered great difficulties in life - I've already had my cry this morning and then talked to a friend and now feel better

My favorite music gig of the year is a service Steve Pearlman and I lead in early December to give space to people who are grieving any kind of loss. We use the advent candles to explore the wide span of emotions that so often come upon us around this time: hope *and* despair, peace *and* distress, joy *and* sorrow, love *and* apathy. Each candle gets assigned a song from our repertoire and an appropriate poem or reading, and then there's a candle lighting ceremony at the end for individuals who want to remember loved ones or honor other losses in their lives. The courage of people who come to this service never ceases to amaze me. We had about 70 people this year and it was intense.

Blessings this holiday season; may its heartbreaks and celebrations bring healing to you all.

Best of the holidays, and Happy New Year to all my Bose Message Board friends!

Yes this is a time for creating memories and recalling good and bad. One thing I find helpful is to remember there is always someone "worse off" than we are no matter how low we are. Best to you ST and all fellow forum members. Cheers!
Brian

Best to all here! Unfortunately I think I have the Christmas flu.

About once or twice a month when going through the Tim Horton's drive through I will pay for the car behind me.I don't usually know who they are and I just drive on without acknowledging them.

As I was coming into town Christmas Eve I was stopped for speeding. The officer came up to my window and asked if I knew how fast I was going. I didn't...so he told me. He also said I would probably loose 2 points. Then He asked if we knew each other. I said I didn't think so. Well, after a few minutes he came back and said he was letting me go with a warning and thanks for the coffee.

Go figure.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Wow - that is a great story! Thanks for inspiring us