An Extraordinary Weekend

What a weekend. And what a season of the year.

Tonight was the final Christmas concert of the year and final concert
ever for the St. Helena Hospital Men's Chorus. Wendy Skeels, our
beloved director, (and cousin to Mom) along with her husband Norman,
have, after over 25 years of leading and singing determined that now
was the time to make some life changes, possibly move out of state in
a life transition and the choir has ended.

And what a ride it has been. I personally have been a member a mere
twelve (?) years with the group and oh the memories that flood into
my heart. We have sung all across north and central California. One
tour took us up to Yreka in the far north and the small Adventist
church there overwhelmed us with their love. It seems the churches in
the hinterlands do not get to hear the traveling groups like the
larger churches, that is sad. We had recording sessions for burning
CD's. Studio time is precious and we all had to behave for hours at a
time with out the usual tom-foolery that often bonded us together. We
sang at camp-meetings and funerals, high times and low, and each time
was wonderful. Singing in the Grass Valley church while huge snow
flakes drifted down, wonderful memories.

This weekend was our annual Christmas concert series in the
Yountville, SDA Church. The church has welcomed us in each year for a
weekend concert series and the church has outdone themselves with
decorations and food for the choir. This year the Christmas story was
told thru the eyes of Joseph. Mary was never seen in the concert.
"Pastor Pete" from a Christian church in Napa was Joseph and his
portrayal touched me and gave me new insights into the burden that
Joseph carried in supporting his virgin wife and providing a loving
home to the Son of God. To be a part of this concert series has been
a blessing for me that I get to keep.

Mom and Dad came down from Lake County for the Sabbath afternoon
program. Linda helped Mom with her hair before the concert she looked
just great. Mom has had a tough series of months, particularly
lately as the Alzheimer disease continues to ravage her brain. And
yet, she was in fine form on Sabbath, remembering people, remembering
names, remembering faces, hugging and tears with old friends who had
also come to the concert. It was wonderful to see her for just a few
minutes and pretend that all is well. As we sat around our dinner
table later and recalled the day, she still had some of the faces and
names in her mind and yet, she did not know just where she was or
where home is.

Jerry and Sally Cople came up, Janet and Lester Margart came down
from Eureka, there were more old friends visiting and hugging and
sharing after the concert then I will ever know, and it is good to
see, life is too short to ignore friends. To have friends and family
who we can be "real" with, that is the greatest blessing we can
expect on this earth.

Life is wonderful. Linda and Mark and I continue to take our lives
one day at a time and we treasure every day.

Be Blessed. Merry Christmas,

Craig Philpott