In Holiday Finery, 2010

     Last year at the conclusion of their “Sounds of the Season” Christmas concert, the Bayside Singers’ director, Sandy Nielson, asked the audience to think about sharing their Christmas remembrances for the following year.  The time is now upon us and, on Sunday, the Bayside Singers’ 2010 will present “A Gift of Memories.”  There will be two performances – the first at 2:00 p.m. at the Inn at Harbour Village in Ilwaco and the second at 5:00 p.m. at the Oysterville Church.  What a wonderful beginning to the holiday season!
     Of all the holidays and celebrations in our culture, and notwithstanding our increasing emphasis on consumerism, Christmas remains the most sentimental and nostalgic.  Christmas traditions, both public and private, abound; every family seems to have a special memory or recipe or decoration that evokes past festivities and loved ones.
     As I understand it, “A Gift of Memories” will be a pairing of recollections of past Christmas and Hanukkah seasons with appropriate music.  Lovely young Brier Gregory will be the featured soloist, Barbara Poulshock will provide piano accompaniment, and the choir, itself, has expanded in numbers and now includes several male voices in addition to the stunning female voices of last year.  Admission to the concert is free but donations for the food bank are encouraged.
     Today, the finishing touches will be put on the decorations at the church.  I had a glimpse of evergreens and red velvet bows ready to go around the wall sconces and on the window sills yesterday morning.  Forward progress was halted for a few hours for a wedding which featured purple hydrangeas and oyster shells (really lovely!) but I understand that by this evening the little church will be fully transformed and garlanded in holiday finery.  
     “A Gift of Memories” presented by candlelight  in the Oysterville Church!  How blessed we are in the village  to have such an early holiday treat available right here in our midst.  I am so looking forward to it!