Throw Your Arms Around the World at Christmastime

A lot of people are commenting on this year’s card’s tagline. Few seem to remember that it’s from “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band-Aid, one of those late-80s Feed the World type of affairs. Our friend Bob Geldof led the thing. I love that song, and love that it takes me back to being in London … the most vivid memory of that time is of the annual St Pauls’ Girls’ School Christmas (yes, Christmas, not holiday) concert. At the end of the concert every doorway opening onto the Great Hall was packed with girls leaning into the room, singing along to “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” (which remains my favorite carol). The whole Great Hall lit up with candles and wreaths and what felt like thousands of swelling voices. I wish my scanner worked because I have some great pictures of those days.

Holiday Ladies’ Tea


What’s better than champagne, dear friends, and presents, at 3pm on a weekday? Not a whole lot. Divine afternoon at Upstairs, lots of laughter and great holiday cheer.

AND I got to spend the pre-3pm hours with Abby … heaven on earth. Not many friends in this world who can appreciate the sheer joy of just hanging out in a bookstore. I found a terrific poem in a Garrison Keillor-edited anthology, which I bought, and I’ll surely have some passages to post.

Oh … going back to Providence on Wednesday afternoon. Worst possible time. Oh well.

Holiday Assembly

Just back from the final nursery school assembly of the fall. Third year in a row it made me cry. There is something about 84 children and assorted family members sitting on the floor in a big circle singing Jingle Bells that gets to me. That whole without-skin, passage-of-time thing. And the incredible innocence in the room. The looks on the parents’ faces as they sing the classic song. This year the yellow room sang This Little Light of Mine and that just slayed me – all I could think about was what I can do to make sure Gracie DOES take her light around the world, how do I help her be proud and strong and confident and humble. Ay carumba.

And, Providence rears its head. Stay tuned.

And, finally, 3pm champagne with the ladies – will have some stories and pictures for sure.

More to come, but for now an addition to the Museum of Hilarious Commentary by Gracie:

Walking home from the Somerset this afternoon, I was having a tricky time with my heels on the cobblestones. Grace wanted to run and finally I had to say to her, “I can’t go as fast as you can, Grace.” To which she replies, completely guilelessly: “You’re slow because you’re a mummy, and you’re a little bit old, right?”

Addendum:

1 camera found (by the lovely Cambridge Skating Club folks)
17 days until 12/28, when I get to see Jessica!