me and my drum

'Hello. I'm Bing.'

The first part is so cheesy, but I love this song:



Just heard the lovely original version, on the radio, driving to the beach on Christmas day, in Florida. I didn't swim in the ocean, because of the Portuguese Man o' War jellyfish, but it was a lovely drive, playing Christmas carols full blast on the radio with the windows open and the ocean breeze on A1A, singing (poorly, alas) at the top of my lungs.

I'm moved how my Jewish friends are sending Merry Christmas wishes on facebook: it reminds me all that it's not about what faith we are, as long as we have some. Faith, I mean.



And hope. Because after all, what today is about - FOR ME - is celebrating the birth of a man, many years ago, who was born - not even, it has been established, in December. His birthday was moved to this date, the darkest, coldest day of the year, so everyone would pull together, light a fire and the candles and dig out the food they had been squirrelling away to get them through the winter. To have faith that we'd make it through the dark days, and weather the storm. And survive to see the spring, and reap the harvest.

So today we celebrate the birth of one man. Who, by the way, never said he was the ONLY son of God - he said we were all God's children, but somehow that got lost in translation. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, today is as good a day as any to stop worrying about the future, or regretting the past, but instead, to appreciate the ones we love, who are with us either literally, or in spirit. Today is a good day to simply celebrate life.

My little gift for you - which cost me nothing, except the small gift of my time - is three versions of this beautiful song.




Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope you're all having fun, beating your drums.

christmas juxtaposition 2011

Years from now, we all will be together, if the fates allow. But for now, we'll have to muddle through somehow. So have yourselves a merry little Christmas now.

That song keeps playing on the radio as I drive to the beach, and it gets me every time. I love this version by James Taylor: one of my little gifts, to you.

seven swans a swimming

It is totally surreal to be here in paradise, in Florida, during the lead up to Christmas. I keep forgetting and thinking it's summer. I had done this before I realised, it's actually seven swans a swimming! Okay, flying, same thing. Swimming feels like flying, in liquid sky.

Now I'm trying to think of other things to do with the song... which swims through my head, while I do. As before, images by me, of The Foolish Aesthete: a creative collaboration with my virtual friend. It's like Paris in the Thirties, artists inspiring each other.

Hope you're having fun, wherever you are, and not letting all the pre Christmas craziness get under your skin.