Christmas 2006

I went to hear the Dallas Bach Society perform Mozart's version of Handel's Messiah on Wednesday night, December 20th, but my festivities officially began on Friday night, December 22nd, when I hosted my annual Christmas party/open house.

Close to 40 friends, family and neighbors attended my party this year.












We ate, drank and chatted into the night, eventually gathering 'round the badly out of tune piano for some songs, played by my talented and lively lively 82-years-old, across-the-street-neighbor, late in the evening.
















On Saturday, the 23rd, Alex and I attended a matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Fair Park. It had been years since either of us had done that, but we enjoyed it so much that we've vowed to do it again next year, whether we're together or apart at Christmas.

















On Christmas Eve, as usual, we opened gifts by candlelight at my house. Two moments were especially memorable this year: Katharine's eloquent tribute to Alexandra, and Xander's face when he received his Christmas present from his grandfather, A: his first bicycle.

















On Christmas Day, Katharine and Brenden hosted Christmas lunch at their house, and that evening was family movie night: A, Alex, Mike, Chris and I went to see The Good Shepherd, which all of us gave 2 thumbs up. We're movie buffs: we also saw Children of Men and Blood Diamond.

Alex flew back to Chicago on Wednesday morning, and Mike flew back to Arizona at the crack of dawn today.

I'm looking forward to New Year's Eve, which I'll spend the same way this year as I have for the past few years: enjoying the Dallas Bach Society's performance of The Brandenburg Concertos, performed in a small setting, on both antique and modern instruments, after which I'll return home for champagne and chicken enchiladas, Christmas (meaning with red and green chilies) at midnight.

Happy New Year, everyone.