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Saturday, December 19, 2009

A walk down memory lane...


One of the uncle's taking a break...he walked all the way with us
At the old folks home with the man that got me started on leading the caroling 1983
The group I led back then...no costumes...just candles and kids...before I donned the Santa suit
At the same home 26 years later...with one of my carollers...he made me smile when he called me the original...Santa that is...Ho Ho Ho
The carollers at my home last night
In the spirit of Christmas this year I decided to let my little girl go caroling. Be managed to make it for one practice session only but that was okay. My daughter knew most of the songs. Being a Christmas fan...I listen to carols months ahead and have a wide collection of Christmas CDs...although there is one Johnny Mathis CD stuck...I mean literally in my cars CD player Ho Ho Ho

I must say that things have changed a lot since the last time I went caroling. back then we did everything old school...I mean we had no guitarist so it was bells and tamborines. I guess for those who continued witht the tradition may have wanted to try something new this year and maybe inject some life into the songs. For me and my good buddy whom I convinced to join us though we were was just happy the way things used to be.

The groups previous leader proudly allowed his teenage daughter to conduct and lead. She did have the energy and some know how to her credit but she wanted to make most songs NEW and bring her schoolgirl style to the carols....a cross between a high school musical wannabe and Hannah Montana meets Christmas. Anyway to cut along story short, I was a little disappointed with the whole business but I can't complain because I didn't step up now did I...not that I am the greatest singer but I know how to preserve traditions. Enuf said I guess but the rest of the carollers were a diverse group and families in the area usually joined in the caroling too.

Overall it was fun to visit homes like I used to 25 years ago with my merry bunch of carolers. I saw so many familiar faces and it brought back memories. On the second day of carolling we visited the person who had asked me to lead the carollers back then. He was in an old folks home as he was confined to a wheelchair and had difficulty speaking. I was really taken aback as I have not seen him in ages. Memories came flooding back as his wife and my mother used to be the best of friends. My mother is now gone and his wife had just undergone surgery and could not take care of herself too. I was really teary-eyed and choked with emotion...it was sad.

As we went to more houses we used to visit on our caroling rounds I saw that more and more people had passed on. Many people were still alive though and the young ones were all grown up with families of their own. It made going caroling a lot more special to me at least. For my daughter...she didn't sing much since she is such a quiet person among strangers and even after three hard days of singing it was not enough to bring a peep out of her. It was okay...she's only four and it was her first time besides I know she can sing...so next year I hope she'll be ready Ho ho ho

18 comments:

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

Woohooo to Hannah Montana! Or was it Miley Cyrus? LOL!

Man, somebody really has to tell her she can't sing!

But overall, I had fun hanging out with you :D

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

I have to agree with you, during our time, the caroling was so much more different. I guess times change and traditions change. Either that or we're just fussy old folks ... LOL!

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

And thanks for getting them to sing God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen at your house though it could have done without the pap, pap, paps thrown in ... hahaha!

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

You mean that darn CD is still stuck in your CD player till today? LOL!

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

Picture number 3 - is that you and who I think it is in the background? ... hehehe ...

Mariuca said...

chop!

Mariuca said...

So are u as depressed about Liverpool as B? :)

Mariuca said...

I like HSM but HM..not so much! ;) Here's wishing u a Merry Christmas GK! Where to dis Christmas? :)

Adrian said...

Dude I think Mylie Cyrus is Hannah Montana LOL...yeah someone really should...but you have to give her an A for effort...just needs proper direction...hopefully in time she'll learn...

Oh it was fun hanging too...been too long eh? :)

Adrian said...

I think that we're probably a little older and a little wiser...now I understand what my Mum was trying to say to me :)

Adrian said...

No problems dude...sorry about the papapapa...I didn't hear it at my place though...oh well what can I say!! LOL

Adrian said...

Errr...yes dude...to take it out and fix it cost a couple of hundred bucks and to put in a new player the smae...heck I can live with Johnny Mathis... besides Ellie loves Sleigh Ride...ho ho ho

Adrian said...

yeah...it's the olny picture I had of the place...:)

Adrian said...

ha ha GP no need to chop here lah...only you and Nick competing ho ho ho! :)

Adrian said...

YES!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THEM??? LOST AGAIN TODAY!!! Arrrggghhhh what a season...no cups this year...cupboard will be full of moths only!! :(

Adrian said...

Yeah HSM 1 was fun...but II ws not so...haven't seen III...HM I haven't seen at all...or choose nto to LOL..

I'll be home for CHristmas...not planning on going anywhere just yet...how about you GP?? Going visiting?

Mariuca said...

Hi GK! Happy New Year to you and your family! May this one be less hectic and more relaxed for u..bye bye exams! :)

Adrian said...

HI! GP!! Just got back to work today! It's gonna be less hectic without school for sure! I'm so glad last year ended but I think this year might be a little of the same from the early signs...ho hum. :(

Cheers to you and B!!! :)