Already, a present …

Just about to put out some crackers and meat and cheese for a wee Christmas snack …

Last night, some of us went to Oma’s … I brought my violin, and finally I played for Oma.  She has remarked a few times to my mother this fall that she wished she could hear me play.  I played Christmas carols, including German ones that I’ve grown up with without ever learning the words.  Oma had a few matter-of-fact tears on her face after I played, and then I remembered (I always forget all these family things) that she had had a brother who played violin, who was sent to Siberia and never heard from again.  There are so many stories and so little brain to hold them.  Oma and I used to say to each other that this is why it is important not to judge anyone, because we can’t possibly know all the stories.

Anyhoo, my sister and I came to my parents’ place and slept over in the living room, with P2 sleeping on the couch.  I called P1 to wish him and his family a happy first Christmas Eve together.  (This time last year, Asterope was in the hospital on enforced bed rest, with the twins gestating inside her … so all four of us siblings went to visit her first, and then we had the last Sibling Sleepover.) 

P1 said, "Say, what’s the name of that organist you’re friends with?"

I told him U’s name.

"I wonder if that’s who we saw tonight?  You see, Asterope and I were in the neighbourhood and we thought we’d visit the Anglican church for their Christmas Eve service … The guy playing stood up to teach us all a new song."

I asked what the organist looked like.

"Tall, glasses, … he blinked more than was normal, I thought … "

I laughed.  "That’s him!  He blinks when he’s nervous.  He’s not terribly fond of public speaking."  (I had no idea that I knew about his blinking until P1 mentioned it.)

So, P1 told me that they had had to leave halfway through, because the twins were fussing.  I couldn’t help laughing joyfully at the thought that my neice and nephew had been exposed to U’s music this way …

So I left a little message on U’s machine last night, wishing him a good Christmas …

He called back about an hour ago.  I told him about the twins.  We talked of Christmas music and what we’re expecting to eat tonight.  Apparently he’s picking up some old friends of his father’s and having dinner with them.  U asked me how my family was doing and really wanted to know … Anyhoo, when we hung up, I could feel a smile spreading over my face.  When I re-entered the living room, Mom wanted to know who had called.  This led to a funny little situation, in which I basically had to explain to my mother and my sister that for me, this already is the happy ending.  For years I admired this man and wanted to know him better and actually talk to him sometime other than when we would bump into each other in the hall at the music school.  That I can call him Friend is already wonderful.  It’s still true that I would like, once before we die, to hold his face gently between my hands, but it’s almost a moot point.  Wonderful things happen all the time that we wouldn’t have believed possible …

In a few hours the twins will arrive (another case in point) … that’s when we’ll open the gifts under the tree.

Right!  Have to set out the casual Christmas midday snack.