Sitting around the Piano
Meant to post this a month ago 
It was the annual Christmas party last night at the church. I went there earlier in the afternoon to help set up and Nancy had the idea of organizing the tables around the piano this year. It was a great idea and we set them up in a semi-circle with the piano against the wall. Lynn put some boughs on top of the console and we put tablecloths on the tables and the Christmas table runners that Natasha made and then Gilda added the peppermint and lifesaver favors at each place that she makes every year, wrapped in cellophane. Since we had put lights around the room last Sunday, we didn't need to do that. In 45 minutes we were done. What a time bargain.
We decided to abandon our effort at reusability for the evening in favor of getting hot cups that people could throw away so we wouldn't need to wash more dishes. It was the right decision. Lynn said I could find some at Longs in the far corner. Later, after dark, the party began. Lynn, coming in from the kitchen as I arrived, looked around, glanced at my bag of cups and plates and frowned, "Those don't look like the hot cups from Longs,"
"They are hot cups, see," I replied, pulling the tower of cups out of the bag. "It says hot/cold. I didn't get them at Longs, I went to the party store."
People wore their Christmas clothes and the new Pastor Robert circulated the room, making sure to have a word with everyone. Jim made two turkeys and Eleanor arranged for a fundraising bazaar. Someone even brought 3 quilts, made in Minnesota. There were some great bargains. Lynn talked me into the Christmas red, cable knit, Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater that was too small for Nancy, for $20. "You can wear that in Wisconsin next week," said Nancy.
I talked to Lynn's husband, Ralph, about his travels into geneology and his German/Russian ancestors who came to Nebraska and Colorado. Barbara volunteered that her relations had come from England and settled in Massachusetts. And there are more than a few midwesterners in the group. Mostly transplants, but a few natives in the community.
I looked around at the familiar faces, we've all put on a few pounds, or taken off a few pounds and put them back on, since everybody loves to eat so much and they're all great cooks. The traditional green bean casserole was present, as usual, on the buffet table. And there was a ham this year. There weren't as many desserts this year, but Natasha had her brownies.
After dinner, we sat around the piano in our usual way. We sang all the Christmas songs. We sang the melancholy ones, Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming...from tender stem hath sprung. As well as Joy to the World. There were Jim and Eleanor and Ralph and Lynn and Tim and Carol and Sam and Judy and Warren and LaVerne and Kathleen and Ruth. Cara wanted to sing one in French, so several of us joined in.
It was the annual Christmas party last night at the church. I went there earlier in the afternoon to help set up and Nancy had the idea of organizing the tables around the piano this year. It was a great idea and we set them up in a semi-circle with the piano against the wall. Lynn put some boughs on top of the console and we put tablecloths on the tables and the Christmas table runners that Natasha made and then Gilda added the peppermint and lifesaver favors at each place that she makes every year, wrapped in cellophane. Since we had put lights around the room last Sunday, we didn't need to do that. In 45 minutes we were done. What a time bargain.
We decided to abandon our effort at reusability for the evening in favor of getting hot cups that people could throw away so we wouldn't need to wash more dishes. It was the right decision. Lynn said I could find some at Longs in the far corner. Later, after dark, the party began. Lynn, coming in from the kitchen as I arrived, looked around, glanced at my bag of cups and plates and frowned, "Those don't look like the hot cups from Longs,"
"They are hot cups, see," I replied, pulling the tower of cups out of the bag. "It says hot/cold. I didn't get them at Longs, I went to the party store."
People wore their Christmas clothes and the new Pastor Robert circulated the room, making sure to have a word with everyone. Jim made two turkeys and Eleanor arranged for a fundraising bazaar. Someone even brought 3 quilts, made in Minnesota. There were some great bargains. Lynn talked me into the Christmas red, cable knit, Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater that was too small for Nancy, for $20. "You can wear that in Wisconsin next week," said Nancy.
I talked to Lynn's husband, Ralph, about his travels into geneology and his German/Russian ancestors who came to Nebraska and Colorado. Barbara volunteered that her relations had come from England and settled in Massachusetts. And there are more than a few midwesterners in the group. Mostly transplants, but a few natives in the community.
I looked around at the familiar faces, we've all put on a few pounds, or taken off a few pounds and put them back on, since everybody loves to eat so much and they're all great cooks. The traditional green bean casserole was present, as usual, on the buffet table. And there was a ham this year. There weren't as many desserts this year, but Natasha had her brownies.
After dinner, we sat around the piano in our usual way. We sang all the Christmas songs. We sang the melancholy ones, Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming...from tender stem hath sprung. As well as Joy to the World. There were Jim and Eleanor and Ralph and Lynn and Tim and Carol and Sam and Judy and Warren and LaVerne and Kathleen and Ruth. Cara wanted to sing one in French, so several of us joined in.
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