Then came a somewhat elaborate & solemn candle-lighting ceremony, with candles ringing my living room & kitchen. The kidsfound a new power in wielding a lighter. A very touching scene invoked baby Jesus, Gabe (as baby) lay on the kitchen counter swathed in his boxers & a patchwork quilt, blinking innocently. We were to keep silent & observe him only. However, Isaiah recruited me to play a temporary Mary & the Christ child leapt off the cupboard onto my lap & curled himself into a long-limbed little ball. All the candles were then blown out in reverse order; 10 minute intermission.
Scene two was much the same actually, only this time the baby was cold (as he lays on his nest). I as Mary had to cover him with a thin table cloth to stop his pitious wailing; this time it was enough to warm him. Gabe/Jesus jumped from the counter to my lap & back three more times, conversation deteriorated from gold, frankincense & myrrh to how much poop is in the diaper & who gets to change it. Isaiah/Joseph said, "That's YOUR job." I'm wound up to lecture him on traditional divisions of labor but Emmanuel knocked the lit Advent wreath off the cupboard with his next leap & we all watched in slo-mo as it hits the carpet, all simultaneously chiming, "Oh, shit!" Luckily no damage; the wind from the fall knocked out the flames. So at that point I called their performance a success, gave the kids a standing ovation, & the lights came up.
PamEhli/2001 |
