It's been a tough week. We'll get through it. Outdoor walking is treacherous, which is a shame. I drove down the 100m driveway to get the recycling boxes as it is so slippery. Walking on the snow, with a significant top layer of ice, defeated me.
Home is still safer. Our COVID numbers are shocking here in Leeds, Grenville, Lanark Health Unit. We had 253 total cases last Thursday: 542; on Monday, 556 cases Tuesday. (They don't post on holidays or weekends.) The last time it was this high was Dec., 2020, when it was at a peak of 314 cases.
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On a lighter note♪... I miss the church music at Christmas.
We had many happy times in the church choir, we (my mom and dad), as well as Wendy and Andrew. Both my parents sang in the LPCC choir, begun by my aunt back in the 50s. It was a musical family, my adoptive family.
On Dec. 21st 1973, 47 years ago, I travelled to Timmins to be present for my friend Wendy's wedding. It was a long bus ride and I was nervous. Billeted in her friend's house, it was quite an experience for me.
Wendy and Andrew were students in the university nearby. I was telling two of my three kids about the choir and thought of the good old days. We reconnected on Facebook. Wendy and Andrew's daughter just graduated with her PhD! They have a granddaughter, as well.
We spent hours singing at LPCC. This is the foyer of the church.
I joined the choir when I was in Gr. 8, 1969. I sang there until I was married at Lawrence Park Community Church on Dec. 10th, in 1976. I tried being in a choir here, but the politics of the church and church choirs, set me on edge. This brings fond memories.
Wendy, and her then boyfriend, were in our church choir. They graduated from the local university and settled in Toronto. A beautiful couple, with good hearts, and fine spirits. Both talented musicians, they kept up their church choir work. When I think of them, I think of our choir at Christmas. We had many candlelight services in the church.
Wendy and Andrew (my mom called them Wendrew!) have worked long and hard in the musical community.
Donaldson is the third of seven children born to Northern Ontario missionaries. He and his wife, Wendy, have lived in the Hambly Avenue area of the Beach for almost 50 years.
Donaldson received a B.A. in French and English studies from Glendon College, York University (1974), and studied classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he received the Associate Diploma (ARCT) in classical guitar performance (1979).
They have worked hard in many different countries. Andrew Donaldson
In these COVID times, they have pivoted, as many musicians have been forced to do. There are many musical videos online of their work.
This is his beautiful arrangement of Silent Night. (Singers and Players of Beaches Presbyterian Church, Jo-Ann Thornton Dell, soloist, Don Anderson, piano, Andrew Donaldson, conductor.)
Also, Andrew has his YouTube channel with more music.
Here they are in a delightful piece. Wendy is on the far left.
It was an amazing event. Our friends, Donna and Norma, have been together for 60 years, married for about 15. They held themselves a 60th anniversary celebration of friendship.
Donna worked with my mom and dad at Canada Hardware, in Toronto, back before I was born. Donna sang in the choir (as paid alto soloist) that my aunt started: the Lawrence Park Church Choir. Mom and dad sang in that choir, too.
LPCC choir
Mom and Dad, and Donna and Norma, remained friends for years. Donna and Norma have lived in Toronto, Brampton, Kingston, Wolfe Island and Bracebridge.
We took them on a trip to Wolfe Island, where they had a summer home. We took them snowy owl hunting on the island, as well! Here we are at their house in Kingston, from which they've moved into a retirement residence. Donna has had knee issues, and their new apartment suddenly came available. Norma has dementia, but she enjoys her life with Donna. Norma regales us with stories of her life, living with a father who was a spy!
Imagine, 60 years together. They've done so much for others. Norma, working with the visually impaired in Toronto; Donna writing up a storm. I've read two of her books: Clinic of Hope: The story of Rene M. Caisse and Essiac, and her latest is a song book from Sir John A. Macdonald's era: The Sir John A. Macdonald Music Book: “We’ll Hand Down His Name in History and Song.”
It was a wonderful celebration!
The two ladies set up the library themselves. The home brought up four trays of squares. Sir John A. Mcdonald (AKA Brian Porter) chronicled their lives together. JB and I helped out, he finding chairs, and the both of us serving drinks.
I have joined a church choir again, an affable group at St. Paul's United Church, in a very old building (Church history - 1854). My parents sang in the choir from well before my time, both as teenagers until their late 70s. Twice a week, Thursday rehearsals and Sunday morning services. Faithfully.
When I was adopted, in 1956, my parent's LPCC church, in Toronto, suddenly created a nursery for me. The church was young and new. Mom sang alto; Dad sang tenor. My late aunt began the choir. She was a pianist until arthritis precluded this endeavour.
I joined the junior choir at church, then took vocal music at high school, Jarvis Collegiate. By grade 11 I was in both the junior and senior chamber choirs at school, as well as the senior choir at church. Then, I joined the North York Chorus, a professional chamber choir with the infamous Albert Greer.
St. Paul's Church - Perth, Ontario
I have had a hiatus for a number of years, as we have resettled ourselves. I moved to Nepean in 1998, another move in 2003, then a move to Muskoka in 2006. Finally, in 2010, with three new sets of shingles under our belts, or over our heads, we have settled in here. The church I now attend is an old one. St. Paul's has an active congregation and good choir. While church life has not peaked my interest in the past 10 years, I have settled in singing either soprano or alto, depending on the needs of the Sunday.
The church family did a delightful clown play today. I am told it was written at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. This is a big church in Toronto, with an active on and off-line ministry and a church choir school. My family friend, Dr. Jean Hunnisett, with whom I sang at LPCC choir in the 70s, was a teaching nurse, then earned her degrees in order to become a minister. She is an excellent candidate for a pastoral care ministry. A caring woman, who performed my late mother's funeral, she guided me as I was choosing my university program in 1975.
Suddenly, bubbles fell from above!
Our newly invested minister, Camille
Giving Clown we need your Spirit, We've forgotten how to live. Giving Clown we need your joy, Teach us how to give.
How do you take your choir director seriously,
looking like this?!
Boyd got into the spirit of things!
He and hubby deliver Meals on Wheels!
I have been reflecting back on a life singing in choirs. I enjoyed it immensely. The recent holiday season brought back memories.
I grew up singing in our church choir, joining my parents at age 13. I was in the East York Chorus, with Albert Greer. I joined the Ottawa Choral Society in the 80s, and greatly expanded our repertoire.
When we sang Russian, it was amazing. I learned so much with our speech coach. I recall leaving the concert (it was Ottawa-with many embassies in the city) and seeing guns in the limos in their own specially installed holsters. Quite the time!
Christmas, of course, was a time of great joy. We found many choral books around Mom's house. They sang in Elderberries choir, a Muskoka choral group for seniors.
I imagine that over the years this artsie endeavour has been perpetuated by the incredible high school choirs, vocal teachers and Kiwanis Festivals that help shape and create an energy and spirit of soaring song.
In burying my mother, and going through her things, I found many artifacts that document a life well sung! She sang and danced in a group in 1937. I love the photo. They were a musical family. My aunt played piano.
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