ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PARTY

December 15, 2010 Wednesday

Yesterday morning we went to the care center to help out with the Christmas Party. When we got there, they were bringing as many patients as could get there to the big lounge in one of the wings. Two aboriginal fellows were singing and playing guitars. They were good; they must have been singing a lot of Australian folk songs because we sure weren’t familiar with any of them. The one exception was “Tiny Seashells.” Then they asked if we wanted to hear some Christmas songs. So they sang a song about the Beagle Bay Catholic/Aboriginal community north of here. In the middle of the song, they sang one verse of “Silent Night,” and then continued on with more unfamiliar stuff. And that was the end of the music. Then Santa came in with a big rolling cart full of presents. His costume was made out of a stretchy, thin, red material. You could see the pillow used to make his belly bigger. But at least it didn’t make him hotter than it already was outside. He had gifts for everyone and his elf “Bon Bon” handed them out. I think she was his granddaughter who came to help. His beard was real but not very white. Everyone got a new shirt and a bottle of lotion and some soap. Then we hurriedly moved everyone out of the big area and carried in pre-decorated tables. We then wheeled everyone back in so they could all have lunch together. We left at that point. But it was great to see all the effort put into making it special for those poor folks who live there.
Speaking of Christmas music—we miss it. You don’t hear it anywhere. Neither of the shopping centers are playing it. I ran all the way through the FM dial on the car radio tonight and didn’t happen on to even one Christmas song. Even the TV ads don’t have Christmas music in the background. They do celebrate Christmas here, but it certainly doesn’t have the atmosphere we have in the states.