Christmas in the Village

Earlier this month, we attended our neighborhood's giant Christmas party. It was held "downtown" which is really just a large park plaza with some old timey shops along Main Street (yes, it is really called Main Street).  Lola's favorite part involves the parade, which really starts the fun. Here is a photo of Lola and I, holding hot cocoa, waiting for the parade to begin.

After the parade, we walked around the plaza, visited a few community booths, and then picked up our candles from the local lions/rotary/kiwanis man. We held our candles, as everyone gathered around the base of the old pine tree and the neighborhood choir (which consists of forty people ages 17 - 80, all of whom play the ukelele) led everyone in a few Christmas carols.

When the sun dropped behind the buildings, we all counted in unison, and then the old pine tree lit up the sky.

As cheesy as this all sounds, community events like this make me happy. Here we are, brought together because we live in this tiny neighborhood, holding our candles and singing Silent Night to the sound of ukeleles. Totally glorious.