On the Winter Solstice

Winter solstice started off with a heavy hangover. Seriously. Prolly I'll blog about hanging-over another day. But anyways, while I was in Starbucks sipping on zen, in the hope that it helped get me out from the after-shock of the Long Island Ice Tee... a friend called.

Hi you... wanna tag along for a carolling? Where? Cheras... Pick me up in Jaya One? Be there at 2, wait for me at the bus-stop opposite.

And so, it turned into a great afternoon spent in Infant Jesus Convent in Cheras with the Selangor Philharmonic Ochestra and the Sisters there. Honestly, I have no idea what the place really is. But it has been eons since we last met, and I thought it would be nice to meet up again.

So... Infant Jesus Convent turned out to be a... convent lah. It's quite a nice place. Very serene. Located up a hill in the middle of a residential area. It's a 3 storey building, with rooms and all to accomodate all the 'old-folks' to whom, I learnt were sort of the 'retired' sisters from all the Catholic churches in the country. There's only little to wonder why my friend called them ladies "Sisters!"

I wasn't a singer really. I croak. Although it was quite a good day where the rain would be very much appreciated, but I don't really think I want to embarrass myself in the house of God. No doubt, hey, He sees us all the time... But well... When the conductor introduced them as someone all so proffesional, I heaved a relief for, I wouldn't be standing there feeling all inferior croaking with other singers of philharmonic quality.

But I got invites to join them. Come join us. Just sing along! Just follow the lyrics. I'm sure you know all these Christmas carols.

Anyways, if you are interested, here are some videos I recorded on the phone and uploaded onto youtube.com. You can view more on my page.

I'm sure all the Sisters there enjoyed the performance. They're moving along with the rhymes. And a few conducted under the table too.

Having group of choirs coming in and sing for them, after all the years of them being God's servant and reaching out to the peoples, anyone with a sane mind would feel happy and glad they're not forgotten. I mean, in some ways.

After all, the residents in the convent are sisters of age 37 up to 90 plus years old. There are 3 over 90 years old and 7 sisters in their 80s. Not forgetting there is one who's hemiparesis after a stroke, and a few others in wheel chairs. Hey if you were there, you'd really feel for them. That you really would do anything for them...

After the carolling, we had afternoon tea. Foods served by all the members of the ochestra. Chicken stew. Sandwiches. Roasted chicken. Fried vermicelle. Gastrocnemous indeed. I had a good time sitting down with them sisters chatting. We talked about life, about what the convent is all about, about gratitude... If anything, I don't mind going back there and spend some time with them Sisters again. Even if it means just to sit there and talk. Though, I would rather sit in Starbucks with friends. La la la.

But anyways, I had a good time. Partly because I really enjoyed choir and live performances. Partly also because I had a trip. And of course, mainly because we met up again. After like, half a year maybe?

Fine... My winter solstice wasn't spent eating the glutinous rice flour ball whatever thingy it's called. At least I'm not growing one year older. Weee! I'm still in my sweet 21.

So yeah, I shall leave you with one last video that I really love.

Happy belated winter solstice everyone.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too.