O Holy Night!

This Xmas I am not returning to Connecticut to be with my extended family.
Instead, Belle and I are hanging VERY low in SF, enjoying the quiet and celebrating in our own way.
The only person –– besides my Secret Santa –– that I have gifted is my faux–nemesis at the UPS store (a copy of UPWARD DOG), appropriate in that I now believe he is the embodiment of my Inner Child.
Today I secured my gift for Susan and also my gift for Dan (which is more elaborate) and I already know what Adrian and I have planned.  Walking up the stairs, I figured out what I think I want to do for LLS.  Thank God all my godchildren and nieces and nephews (I think we’re at an even dozen) are all at the stage where they appreciate money.
Although I have been watching a marathon of the Swedish trilogy of the film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s novels, even though there’s lots of snow, watching Nordic sociopaths seems less appropriate than IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE or the like.
So tonight on a whim I decided to check out the 5pm showing of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Xmas show –– it seemed perfectly Christmassy and perfectly San Francisco.
At first, it was a bit of a madhouse with people sitting in the aisles.
Also, since it was Christmas themed, lots of people bought babies and toddlers.  I actually authentically LOVE kids — but not if they can’t handle a concert “it’s time to be quiet and listen” situation.
Initially, I was (to be honest) not that into it.  Somehow, though, as it got quite frankly gayer, it got so much better, and ended up at AWESOME (or maybe “fabulous” is more on point.)
Once the choreography started loosening people up and then Rudolph was presented as a gay icon, the energy shifted.  (And I also saw that more and more parents were waking up and taking their two year-olds into the lobby).
And then, it actually got emotionally moving during SILENT NIGHT.  So simple, done with sign language, and then JUST sign language, and then the audience singing along.  It did produce one of those MOVIE MAGIC MOMENTS where suddenly Christmas was very real and very powerful and very wonderful.
Thank you San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for revealing the magic of Christmas to me and Belle (who –– and I don’t mean to be boastful re: the toddler situation –– was utterly silent and enraptured from start to finish.)
Merry Christmas!