Behold, I bring you glad tidings

At 1AM this morning I was doing a very bad karaoke duet of Macho Man with my colleague Suzanne at The Navy Club on Victoria Island. It was the Porchlight Christmas Party. Seven hours later I was pinning a Palestinian head scarf onto my seven year old as he scrambled to the stage in the inn keeper chorus during the annual Christmas pageant at Rideau Park United Church. Simon joined him later as a wee shepherd among the 30-odd kids who were part of the program (including two to made up a lumbering camel). It was an awesome concert. Simon's line was "Wow, angels!"

Today was my happiest day of 2007. Even though I'd hit the sack at 2AM, I was up at 5:45 looking for little socks and pants for my pageant pals. The snowstorm complicated things a bit, but we made it to the church on time.

Sitting there in the stiff fourth row pews winking at Jasper on stage my heart swelled so much with pride and love that I was afraid I'd create a scene when my chest burst right open. And I nearly lost it in tears during "Away in a Manger" in the second verse at "...bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to be with Thee there." Because, see, I've bawled in that church before. But that was a sad time. And it's a long way from that day to seeing my little Jasper in a head scarf and sash, smiling confidently on stage.

But I kept my composure. I'm macho.