Christmas Past and Present
I received two tickets for a musical show, “A Christmas Extravaganza” directed by Douglas Brandt Byerly. My friend was supposed to go with me but she had to go back to Las Vegas to tend to her sick mom. My daughter was unavailable as she was doing her school projects. Off I went by myself.
Except for the empty seat beside me, I told myself that I was not going to let this hamper my enjoyment for music. The musical show brought me to a place and time when the children were little and we would take them to their band rehearsals and shows. We would be amongst the proud parents who would cheer and clap thunderously for the beautiful music the children had to practice to perfection.
I found myself crying because I remembered how it felt being with you. Now I just had to rediscover anew the joy of just being by myself. After 27 years in your company, it just didn’t feel right being by myself. But this is the new normal and as strangely as it felt, it also made me feel free. I can leave if I wanted to without consulting anyone. And that was just how I decided my evening would end.
During the intermission, I went home. I realized that I just have to keep creating new experiences without you. This Christmas will be different from what it was in the past. It will be different but it will continue to be a joyous occasion. I will set a place for you in my heart but I will continue to live life with a new set of eyes.
Except for the empty seat beside me, I told myself that I was not going to let this hamper my enjoyment for music. The musical show brought me to a place and time when the children were little and we would take them to their band rehearsals and shows. We would be amongst the proud parents who would cheer and clap thunderously for the beautiful music the children had to practice to perfection.
I found myself crying because I remembered how it felt being with you. Now I just had to rediscover anew the joy of just being by myself. After 27 years in your company, it just didn’t feel right being by myself. But this is the new normal and as strangely as it felt, it also made me feel free. I can leave if I wanted to without consulting anyone. And that was just how I decided my evening would end.
During the intermission, I went home. I realized that I just have to keep creating new experiences without you. This Christmas will be different from what it was in the past. It will be different but it will continue to be a joyous occasion. I will set a place for you in my heart but I will continue to live life with a new set of eyes.