A Toast to the Season

This is our first Christmas season at home in nine years. It is also our first Christmas season in Nova Scotia and in our new home. So, we have been getting our fill of Christmassy things. This includes lots of music: Celtic music at the local brew pub, Blues and Country at another nearby pub, a classical trio concert with a novel twist at a gallery, two choral concerts, one traditional and one not-so, and an evening of seasonal classical and contemporary guitar and vocal music at the local theatre. We have, ourselves, participated in two benefits for local food banks, one on the Fundy Shore and one on the Atlantic shore of Nova Scotia.

The other evening we were at one of these pubs to hear a number of musicians, one of whom we knew, play a mix of secular and spiritual Christmas music mixed in with some old time blues and folk. It was a very festive event. We even donned silly hats. 

Of course, the Christmas season is a time for giving and for being grateful, whether or not one is of a religious bent. It is the time of the Winter Solstice, the marking of the return of the sun northward and of increasing daylight. It is a time for reflection and new beginnings.

After our meal, and a good amount of music it was also time for us to head home. The lead musicians were taking a break and a fresh group of them was about to play a set.  I returned our loaned hats. John went to the bar to pay our tab.

One of the female musicians was a wonderful mandolin player. People seemed to know her, but we did not. During the break she was already at the bar getting a beer when John went up to pay.  The bartender handed her her beer and then asked John what he would like. John said: “I’m paying”. On hearing these words, the musician turned without hesitation to John and said “Thank you very much”, shook his hand and as she left: “Merry Christmas”.

John wasn’t sure what had just happened. Had she been joking? The bartender asked John if she should add this to his tab, or did he want to pay separately. John laughed and said: I’ll pay now.

Sometimes good deeds are thrust upon us.