KAMIKAZE CAROLING

Four years ago I began singing in a mixed a cappella group. Each year at Christmas we are invited to sing at several different Christmas parties as part of the entertainment. But the biggest part of our time is spent in what we laughingly call “kamikaze caroling”. That means we will make rounds at several nursing homes and hospitals. We are always well received and it is obviously appreciated. We usually just go up and down the halls or stand at the nursing stations. Usually people will stop what they are doing. Some join in singing. Some clap and cheer us on. Some follow us to the next stop and listen to the same songs over and over. What always gets to me are the ones that cry. For whatever reason – maybe it’s a particular song that elicits a sad emotion. Or it’s just a deep appreciation that someone cares enough to put out the effort. Whatever the case we always enjoy ourselves, feel appreciated and leave knowing we lifted the spirits of some of the patients and family.

We always stop in a few restaurants to sing and after the employees get over the shock and disbelief they always receive us well and are glad for the distraction and even the disruption. One of the stops we made was to a Quiznos Sandwich Shop. The owner is from India or somewhere similar and he was so excited and appreciative that he treated us to drinks out of his cooler. We also went to an outlet mall. It was just sort of random. It started because one of the girls that sang with us last year was working in one of the stores and we wanted to surprise her. We sure did surprise her, but it was an even bigger surprise to us. Everywhere we went people pulled out their cell phones and cameras and began recording us or taking pictures. We went into a Ghirardelli Chocolate store (yeah, you know why) and we were amazed at the shoppers treating us to their candy purchases. Of course all the children we encountered watched us out of curiosity, but the adults watched us out of amazement and confusion. I suddenly realized most people have never seen Christmas carolers. As a matter of fact I have never seen any. We continued along at the outlet mall, choosing stores at random. We mostly chose stores that seemed busy so we could reach more people. We stopped in a Yankee Candle store and I have never seen anything like the reaction. They wouldn’t let us leave. We sang every song we knew. Shoppers and employees alike stopped what they were doing and begged us to continue. Time after time people stopped in their tracks in total amazement that we were actually standing there in front of them singing. We even went into a Burger King and I thought one of the workers was going to pass out. You could just see them thinking they should pinch themselves to make sure it was real. This has probably happened every year, but this year I really noticed it more. And at some point it stopped being a gift I was giving and became a gift I was receiving.

Each year we begin rehearsing every Sunday night from September till the first weekend of December. Then we spend those first two weekends of December – both Saturday and Sunday making our rounds. Every year we joke because there is always a snow storm – usually both weekends. My husband always says “oh, look at the forecast – it’s gonna be really bad weather – that must mean Common Thread is singing”. Each year I am excited to begin and exhausted and tired of it at the end. But this year was special. This year somewhere along the way it became a gift to me. It will hold a special place in my heart for years to come. The Christmas spirit truly descended on me.

Sing some carols - Merry Christmas.