Sneezins’ Greetings! And a Merrry Reminder

[Mike Simpson]

Sneezins’ Greetings! And a Merrry Reminder

It’s me, Cathy Speck, ho ho ho honking my way to honk you a happy reminder message:

Every year for the last 14 years or so, I gather together a bunch of friends and friends yet to be and we go caroling at local convalescent homes.

This year, the cool caroling will be on Wed Dec 15th from 4 to 7pm (after 7pm, we can drink, eat, socialize & reminisce).

This not a religious event. It is an opportunity to spread joy, smiles and laughter through songs and jingle bells. We’ll hand out lyric booklets, but bring copies of any particular songs you’d like us to sing. We have traditional, pop, and funny xmas songs.

Also, have a few Hanukkah songs, and one song in Spanish — Feliz Navidad.

We usually sing a capella but guitars, fiddles, accordions, banjos, lutes, tubas, etc are welcomed. I’ll provide percussion toys and jingle bells.

To lift spirits even higher, please wear funny hats, antlers, elf ears, silly glasses and noses, angel wings or halos….

Last year I wore my bright red longjohn union suit, my bright orange cowboy hat, and a battery-operated xmas light necklace.

We meet at my apt (Linda will be outta town) at approx 4 pm to imbibe warm spiced apple cider, egg nog, hot buttered rum, hot toddies, champagne punch, you name it. Bring any liquor you want to share. We have plenty of beer, champagne and wine.

Since I don’t drink, we’ll have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. And, as always, our table will be covered with yummy goodies — snacks, some healthful, some just devinely or devilishly dee’lish–uss!

We’ll sit around and chat and warm up our voices as we delightfully sip our merriment.

At approx 4:51 PM, we carpool to Courtyard Helathcare 1850 E. 8th st Davis. We’ll sing in the dining room for awhile if they’re eating dinner at that time. Then we’ll roam the halls, jingling , jangling, caroling and merrymaking. We pause at the doors if people want us to, and some even invite us into their room. Usually, we have between 12 to 19 carolers, so we can’t all fit, but we can take turns.

At approx 5:49 PM, we sing our farewells, then carpool to Sierra Healthcare 715 Pole Line Rd. Many of these residents like to hang out in the lobby wiht the beautiful Holiday Tree, so we’ll carol in the lobby for awhile. After that, we’ll roam the halls singing and jingling, spreading music & joy and compassion and goofiness.

Previous years, we would’ve continued on to carol at some other “rest homes,” but I no longer have the energy/stamina to do that.

Instead, we can come back to the fantabuloulsy festooned apartment, and resume drinking and eating and chatting. Some folks like to share their feelings/thoughts about how the experience affected them. Others just want to drink or eat. It’s all in the spirit of love, compassion and laughing while we can.

Here are the bland but necessary details, without my color commentary:

XMAS Caroling at Davis Convalescent Homes

Wed Dec 15th

801 “D” St . # 3 The Viking apts. Don’t knock–just come in through the patio gate.

4 to 7pm ……or whenever you can make it. You can leave early, come late…You don’t have to come to our apartment first you can meet us at either locations. Be sure to check the time so you know where we are. Once you get inside, it will be easy find us. Just listen for the honking of my Holiday Horn!! ! ! All ages- bring your kids, or borrow some; the older folks just adore the children!

Bring jingle bells, reindeer antlers, Santa hats, angel wings, bright ‘n cheery sweaters.

Everything is ADA compliant.

If you have questions. email is the best way for me to communicate , even though my typo-ing can be blindingly bad. But ….if you must phone…

Davis Food Co-op work 758-2667 ext 146

If you want to bring tasty treats or beverages, that’s SUPER !

Cheers! and gratitude,

Cathy speck

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