Caroling and Partying Dec 2006

By Charlotte Carl-Mitchell

Off caroling on Wed, Dec 13. Carolyn Allenby couldn't carol with the main group on Dec 17 so she arranged an earlier run. 

Our first stop was Erika (Rikki) Michaud. Above: Ann Jackel, Rev. Jean Wahlstrom, and Carolyn Allenby with Ricky. I'd made holiday cards to give to the people we serenaded along with candy canes.

Happy Holidays!

From the Unitarian Universalist

Congregation of Phoenix

Inside: Best wishes for the holidays and throughout 2007!

From your friends in the UUCP Choir

The next stop was to Jim and Sandra Lynch's home. Richard Jahrmarkt joined us there.

Our last stop on Wed was to Helen and Terry Votichenko.

On Saturday, December 16th, Smoot and I gave an open house, inviting church friends, neighbors and Smoot's work colleagues and golfing buddies to celebrate the holidays with us - and to see my collections!

Gary, Don and Sandy seem to be having a good time.

Jan wearing her light-up vest and Helen, both looking festive in front of the tree

Otis and Cary

Smoot, Sonia and Doug

The weather was nice enough to be outside

Wonderful smiles and lots of red on Pauline, Paula and Ellie

Sonia and Brenda

Smoot standing like Jack Benny while Sandy imitates him! Doug and Don look on.

Our neighbors, counterclockwise from left - Maurice and Marilyn Shupe, Bob Willey and his friend, Elaine Smart. Susan grazing in the background

The Geek Squad laid claim to the kitchen. Counterclockwise from from left Bob Rabideau, Robert and Sandy Blackwell, Ray Sears and Jay Campbell

Golfing buddy Frank Arkell and his lovely wife, Beverly, both festively attired

Smoot and me in front of our tree.

Sunday, December 17th was Guitar Sunday. Six members of the choir played their guitars, having practiced the previous Wed. In the photo below, Connie playing her violin and on guitar from left: Barbara Sciacca, Elise Fatimi, Richard Plattner, Bill Snowden, Richard Jahrmarkt and Cindy Bell.

After the service, two groups of people went early to carol. Smoot and I were part of the group that included Elise Fatimi and her son, Cindy Bell, Paula Adkins, Connie Jahrmarkt, Susan Leung, her daughters Katherine and Elizabeth and their friend Lara McClure. Elise is a doctor at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and had asked us to sing there since they don't get many visitors during the holidays. Ginny and Richard had hoped to drive way up north to sing to the Bagwells, but when they didn't answer their phone, the trip was cancelled. And when we called Jeanne and Ken Croissant , he said not to come over so the second group, Ginny, Richard, Sally McDade and Pauline Gay, visited the Grigsbys and Flynn Kelly at the Veteran's home. Ginny told a touching story that when their group arrived at the Veterans Home, Mr. Kelly, who suffers from Parkinson's, was in a fetal position on his bed. But as the group sang, he put his hands together to clap each time they finished a song and  he kept time with the music with one hand while they sang. He sat up and got up after they sang three carols, something that amazed the staff. That sort of response makes the effort to arrange and do the caroling worthwhile.

At 3pm the prequel groups got back together and with more people again set off on two runs. The Leungs had created cute goody bags to give to our former members along with my holiday card. The South group, Connie & Richard Jahrmarkt, Bill Snowden & Joan Gale, Jean Wahlstrom, Ann Jackel, Sandy Thomson and Sally McDade, went to the Mussmans, Margaret Stallsworthy, Paula Hurn, the Petersons and Don Fenily. Smoot and I were part of the North group that also included Ginny and Joe DeMarco, Pauline Gay, Paula Adkins and her UU Pal Anna Bjornsen, Susan, Katherine and Elizabeth Leung, Lara McClure, Cindy Bell, Sarah Burchard and Gretchen and Ray Manker. It was great having Pauline and the Mankers with us because they knew all the people we visited.

Our first stop was to see fellow choir member Pat Shannon, recovering (very well) from hip surgery.

Next was Eleanor Vergis at the Westminster Retirement Center. We had to pull her out of the center's party to sing to her, but she seemed very pleased to see us. The Leung party had to leave after this, but the rest of us carried on.

We next went to Margaret Herrick, below. She is still an active member, but her severe health problems limit her activity. She and Cindy are in the Women's Spirituality Group.

The Mankers had to leave after this so our group was down to two cars, but still enthusiastic. We went to see Eldra Carney. I'd forgotten that she lived in a private care facility that looks just like the houses around it. We started singing and I rang the doorbell expecting to see Eldra. Instead an oriental woman opened the door, looked startled and walked away, leaving the door open. We weren't sure what to do so I walked in and saw the woman getting a dollar from her purse, planning on paying us! I said no, we were there to see Ms Carney. She showed us to her room and we had a very nice time singing and chatting with her. Eldra had recently lost her husband and we thought she could use some cheering up.

Our last stop was to be Bob and Lucienne Rusconi. Again we started singing, this time a rousing rendition of Deck the Halls and I rang the doorbell. A man pulled the door open and in a very gruff tone told us there was a sick person inside, obviously wanting us to go away. I apologized for our disturbance and gave him our card and goody bag, saying we were from the church. Lucienne must have heard us say church because she called to Bob and said let one person come in. Pauline was the logical one. Lucienne was so touched that she let us all come in and with tears in her eyes listened while we sang a quiet version of Silent Night. They were our last stop so it was time to rush back home to get the party stuff out for those carolers able to come over for refreshments.

I had essentially the same things as I had at the open house the day before. Years ago, my mother said if you're going to clean up your house and prepare food for one party, give another the next day to get two birds with one stone. I'd never done that until now. I don't think she envisioned having the day between the parties filled with activities like our service and caroling. That made for a very busy two days.

Smoot, Cindy, Muffin and Sarah

Ginny and Joe being silly

Ginny and Joe looking sweet!

Sandy, Jean and Smoot in the background

As the last of the carolers left, Joyce, who hadn't been able to sing with us, dropped by. We had a nice visit with her, a fun way to end a very busy weekend.