From another time. There’s still snow on the ground here, but it will soon leave as we’re getting 1-2 inches of rain today and tomorrow. This photo was from a couple of years ago when we had a surprise snowfall early Christmas morning.
It’s Christmas Eve. Our missing presents are still missing with no updates from the postal service. Our intention this year was to give each other three modest presents. We’re both missing one present so we have 2 out of 3 on hand.
We watched The Bishop’s Wife last night. As always, we are struck by how simply wonderful it is; subtle, heartfelt, impeccably directed and acted. It has become one of our favorite Christmas movies. Tonight: It’s a Wonderful Life.
To say that 2020 has been a year to remember is the definition of understatement. It has tested us in many, many ways. A year like no other. Last night, we prayed for all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. For healthcare workers and first responders who are desperately trying to save lives. For all of those who are struggling to put food on the table. For those who have lost their homes due to the fallout from this pandemic. For those who should have had help from our government for every month of this pandemic and received nothing. So many people lost. So much of it needless.
I will be so glad to see the end of this year, but as I said to Don yesterday, I also want to be present in this holiday season. It’s a struggle.
I know so many of you are going to be alone this Christmas. I feel for you. Thank goodness for FaceTime and Zoom and all of the wonderful innovations that help us see the faces of our loved ones, especially at a time like this. I’ve been alone on Christmas – not too many years ago, in fact. It was hard, but not as difficult as I had imagined it might be. Don and I opened our presents from each other during a FaceTime session. Though we would have given anything to be together, we knew we couldn’t be, so we girded our loins and got through it.
May we all stay safe and remain rigorous in following CDC guidelines. On the other side of all of this is everything we’ve been missing. It will come again. Honestly, I had a little meltdown the other day about mask wearing and how sick I was of it, etc., etc., and I’m not even out all that much! It’s to be expected. But we will see light at the end of this long tunnel. Just as we’ll see light on January 20th (declared an official holiday here in the Hill-Sparks household.)
We lost Rebecca Luker yesterday to ALS. She was only 59. I wrote about Rebecca and her husband Danny Burstein earlier this year. She had the voice of an angel. I had the honor of working with both Rebecca and Danny several years ago at the Old Globe in a musical version of Time and Again (along with the great Howard McGillin.) Danny and Rebecca met on that show and eventually married. I was already a fan of her luminous voice and talent. What I learned while coaching her was that she was an incredibly kind and loving being, as kind as she was talented. So is Danny. I spent much of the day yesterday listening to her voice, to the beautiful phrasing and placement and the clarity of emotion that was present in everything she did. My heart goes out to all who loved her. Broadway has lost a great. The world lost a magnificent person, much too soon.
So it’s a bittersweet Christmas for many. We remember those we lost this year. We remember our parents and siblings and children and beloved pets who have moved on. We feel their absence.
Seek joy. Though it’s sometimes hard to conjure it up, it’s out there.
I’m taking the day off tomorrow, so I will close this by wishing you a Merry Christmas.
Thank you for being here.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Merry Christmas, Claudia and Don! Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year!
Merry Christmas to you and Don and your family! It has been wonderful to read you blog every morning. Well, I have missed a couple of mornings, but then I will read two in one day. I have enjoyed every one of them. We have all made it through this very tough year, and we will hug, laugh and dance with each other again soon. May this next year be the best one yet for all of us!
We watched The Bishop’s Wife two nights ago, the first time either of us has seen it. I’m really enjoying the old movies this year. Takes me back to simpler times and films that are softer and more tender reflections of life.
Merry Christmas to you and Don!
Merry Christmas Claudia and Don!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2021.
You too, Claudia. A good Christmas for both of you. And as you always say: stay safe.
Merry Christmas to you and Don.
Peace and all good things,
Deborah
You summed up 2020 very well. I admire your intent to savor this season despite the awareness of what many others have lost. Speaking of which, I’m sorry to hear about your friend Rebekah. I just listened to her doing a number from the Music Man–what a crystal clear voice. Happy holidays!
Merry Christmas Claudia and Don. Wishing you many blessings in the New Year.
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay mighty.
Beautiful words. Merry Christmas to you and Don! Hope you have a peaceful day. xo
Merry Christmas to you, Claudia and Don. Thank you again for sharing your life, your sympathy and beautiful words with us. xoxoxo
A very Merry Christmas to you and Don, too! It will be just the two of us here for Christmas tomorrow. It’s the first time in both of our lives that we won’t be gathered with family and friends around the Christmas dinner table. Our son and his family will drop by for a short ‘garage visit’ as we’re calling it. They did the same thing on Thanksgiving. Our daughter and her family live just a little too far away to be able to do that. It’s going to be really hard but we both know how very blessed we are with what we do have. As the saying goes, “we will all get through this together”. Can’t wait until January 20th!
Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year to all!
XOXOXO
it’s all beautiful … the photo, your home, the lives you and don live and share, your hearts and words every day … thank you very much for all of it!
merry Christmas to you both, to everyone who gathers in this warm welcoming safe spot at mockingbird hill cottage and to your loved ones (and the whole world). may the holidays and new year be safe, easy, happier and brighter for everyone.
and many thanks for all the friendship and support you’ve all shown me. means a lot!
stay safe and well.
kathy in iowa
ps: condolences to you and her family on the loss of your friend, rebecca.
great attitude about being in the moment (i’m not there yet).
may God bless us all!
obviously i clicked on “print” too fast this time. :)
kathy in iowa
Merry Christmas and prayers
thanks, brendab. same for you and your family.
peace and a virtual hug, too.
kathy in iowa
thanks, brendab. same to you and your family. also peace and a virtual hug.
kathy in iowa
Dear Claudia and Don, Peace be with you at this special time of fulfillment and remembrance. I am praying with you for the many people who are stressed and insecure at this time. We Americans all have a big job ahead of us, not only from COVID, but from you- know-who. Humbly I pray God bless America.
Merry Christmas Claudia. Thank you so much for writing this blog. It has been a bright spot in a year that truly needed bright spots! Enjoy your time with that talented husband of yours.
wishing you a merry Christmas dear Claudia!
I love the picture of your cottage in the snow two years ago! it’s magical.
I wish for you and your beloved Don … a Merry and Cozy Christmas!
thank you for all your creativity throughout the year. you are appreciated! XO
Best wishes to you both for a happy and peaceful day tomorrow. Your blog has helped many of us to get through this year with a feeling of hope. As always thanks for all you share. Merry Christmas!
Love and peace to you both. Thank you for the time and effort you take to keep this blog going each day.And to all your followers out there I wish all the joy of this lovely season. I feel it is a very special community. xo
Merry Christmas Claudia and Don! May 2021 be the salve we need after 2020 (and the previous four years).
Happy Christmas, Claudia and Don. Enjoy your “day off” tomorrow.
Merry Christmas Claudia, Don and all your readers. Thank you for providing this wonderful site and here’s hoping next year is better for everyone.
Your cottage looks lovely in the falling snow. That picture could be the cover of a Christmas card!
May we all have a Blessed day, filled with a little bit of Christmas magic! Merry Christmas to you and Don! ;)
The Bishop’s Wife is also one of our fav holiday movies that we watch each year.
Also, Come to the Stable (also with Loretta Young), It’s a Wonderful Life and
Miracle on 5th Avenue.
Have a lovely Christmas with your beloved, Claudia.
Merry Christmas to you and Don! Your wonderful posts have helped restore my sanity, so thank you. Better days are ahead for us! Enjoy your Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and Don. And here’s hoping for a better year for everyone in 2021.
Eloquent post; thank you, Claudia. You say it all just right. And I hope for a cozy and sweet Christmas for you and Don.
And a happy holiday, too, for all of your readers here.
Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful post. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and Don.
Merry Christmas to you and Don! Sad to hear of another beautiful person gone too soon. How nice you worked with her. BTW: really miss pajama pictures! Have a safe warm holiday everyone!
Verna and Scott
Brian and I have been watching Christmas movies, too. Right now, we’re watching Elf. Silly, but cute. In a bit – pizza and a glass of wine.
Even though it’s just the two of us this year, I’m so grateful I have Brian here with me. I’ll make my “famous” breakfast casserole” and I’ve thawed out a Kringle that I had in the freezer to save for Christmas morning. We’ll do a Zoom chat later in the day with Tim.
Here’s wishing you and Don a peaceful, loving, , blessed and joyous Christmas together.
Much love,
Melanie
Merry Christmas
Both of my children and families will FaceTime
Florida and local
Just not safe for me to be with them
I have read blogs where families are gathering. Surprising
I am missing important mail and am becoming concerned. 2020 almost over and a Vaccine!
I love the picture of the house.
Prayers for you and Don.
A peaceful and serene holiday to you both. I had intentions of making a small feast for Doug and I but just managed some Shrimp Scampi before the power went out for 45 minutes. So now I am very thankful that it came back on before we had to start the noisy generator. No presents under the tree….somewhere circling the country. Children and grandchildren will try facetime tom. but for now….getting into pjs and relieved we have power. Putting on some soft jazz….no tv tonight…just the tree lights and the maybe a fire in the fireplace. Wish you well and hope this can be a winter of healing for everyone.
Beautiful thoughts, Claudia! I hope the weather is kind to you. We had a beautiful day with a very busy little 9 month old today!! We are both exhausted, but it was just lovely!! So happy that you are taking the day off tomorrow. Enjoy every moment. The delayed presents just means the season will last a bit longer for you and Don. Happy Christmas to both of you and all of the people who journey to Mockingbird Hill Cottage every day!! 🎄
Merry Christmas to you both, Claudia and Don.
Merry Christmas, Claudia and Don.
I hope you are having a lovely day and that your Christmas Eve was beautiful, too. All’s well here in Michigan and in my part of the world, it’s a gentle white Christmas. Graceful flakes all day but the grass barely shows through. When I read this yesterday, I couldn’t comment right away because I was so saddened about Rebecca. I don’t know her personally, of course, but I know both their work and you’ve spoken highly of them both in the past. What a wretched disease. There have been enough losses in 2020. But that one hits hard.
It was just us two today but we zoomed with Rick’s family and with mine and now dinner is in the oven and all is well in our world. Merriest to you.