2023 Life Logs, Day 357: Enjoying Family Time in Boothbay, Maine
Date: Friday, December 23, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 38, Low 22 F
Location: At Home in Marti’s Cottage in Boothbay, Maine
Life is Good. I spent much of my driving and reflecting on life. I was overcome with gratitude during Revels last night and spent my driving time today reflecting on how grateful I am for family and friends who are helping me though this little ‘rough spot’ I am experiencing with my back. Compared to the health issues that many have, this issue is just a little blip. At least that is my hope. I know I am going to have to change the way I do things even after the surgery because it is only addressing the most pressing issue with my back. But I know that with the support of family and friends, I will get through this.
So I drove and shopped my way north to Boothbay to Jed’s mother’s home. Marti graciously invited me to spend the Christmas weekend here with family and we had a great beginning tonight. Heather, Jed, Sam, Jonah, and Ollie are here, along with Jed’s brother Toby and his significant other, Stephanie, and of course, Marti. Heather and family also drove and shopped their way north from Boston and we both arrived at the same time.
My car carried all of the Christmas presents, so Heather told the kids I was Santa’s appointed helper this year. The boys carried all the gifts from the car and put them under Marti’s tree,
with Jonah the appointed Santa’s helper to arrange the presents under the tree.
While Jonah was playing Santa Claus, everyone else was sitting in the living room, all on their phones.
That is the reality of life these days. Marti fixed the dinner that we all really enjoyed, ending with Heather’s poppy seed cake that we all love.
After dinner, the boys returned to the living room to be on their phones or tablet, so I decided to give them each a present to play with a little early. I had a Manchester United emblem puzzle for Ollie, a Liverpool 3-6 soccer ball that he has to build, Lego like, and Chelsea Stamford Bridge Stadium and he has to put together. Kids and adults turned the dining table into a play station and everyone worked on the various projects.
It was so much fun, and that building will continue tomorrow.
During the Revels performance we sang “All Sing”. It is a version of the traditional carol sung as an ending to the folk play in Horsham, Sussex in England. “While the details of the blessing itself may be from another era (after all, who needs more cows), the intention for goodwill lasts through the ages.” Here are the verses we all sang together at Revels while snow, artificial of course, fell upon the singers on the stage. This is what started my overwhelming feeling of gratitude, so I will share the words here for you to read. Reading the words is not inspiring like singing it together, but the feeling of goodwill is present.
Our play is done, we must be gone, we stay no longer here.
We wish you all both great and small a blessed bright new year,
A bless’d and bright new year.
God bless you all within this house with happiness beside.
Where e’er your bodies ride or walk your God must be your guide,
Your God must be your guide.
God bless this house, your children too, your cattle and your store.
The Lord increase you day by day and send you more and more.,
And send you more and more!
