SF Chamber Orchestra

I've seen their ads, but never managed to get to one of their concerts... until now.

It's more casual than, say, an SF Symphony or SF Opera. The conductor wore bright red socks (this is called out in the survey insert in the program, so it's not like I look for such things). And he turned around and said "you can clap anytime you feel like, but that's why we print the program with the movements".

There's a 30-minute talk before the concert. Not on the scale of the MTT series, but informative and light.

Best piece of the evening: Valerie Coleman: Concertino for Piano and Chamber Orchestra
It's not that I didn't like the others. I've heard them before, and this one was unusual in a good way.

Christmas Remembrance Service

For 14 years, Holy Cross has had a Christmas Remembrance Service. It's not a mass, like their monthly first-saturdays. And for 11 of those 14 years, Fr. Talesfore has been the priest. Last year, Fr. Talesfore's dad joined the ranks of residents at Holy Cross.

So, this is the 3rd time we've listened to his service. He really does seem like a warm person. He has baptized parishioners' kids, then watched them grow up, and presided over their weddings. He doesn't look that old. Last saturday was a zoo, but today there were empty seats. It wasn't like this in previous years, but I guess two saturdays in-a-row takes its toll on attendance.

Fr. always stands back and looks at the tree, decorated with "remembrance ornaments" which are colored paper ornaments, on which you write your own remembrance message, and says "how's the tree looking? Believe it or not, I'm not the shortest person in our family". Ha. Maybe that's why I like him. He's my height...

The first year, I could hardly control myself, and the tissue box was out-of-reach. I still tear up, but it's more peaceful now. I close my eyes. Listen to the music. Breathe deeply.