The "Where's The Camel" Story

It was an ordinary day. I was heading to Lititz, PA to see my mother sing in the 2nd Annual Christmas Pageant at Moravian Manor. My mom moved to Morvavian Manor about two years ago and she has been an active part of the social scene since moving. As I arrive I pick up my program for the pageant called "I Love Christmas!" from the lady at the door, my Mother. My Aunt Virginia (my mom’s sister) and two of my cousins, Susan and Amy, are coming. I find a row of four seats near the rear and place the extra programs on the three seats next to me. I guess you are allowed to save seats! Two minutes later three ladies my mother’s age file in the row behind me with their walkers. Seeing the programs on the seats in front of them, they help themselves. OK. Hey mom, how about a few more programs over here. Before I get them on the seats, someone parks them self on the seat at the other end of my row. Now only two seats left. Where are they? It’s really getting crowded. A reserved section for wheelchairs is really filling up. A fellow in a wheelchair is pushed in and across the back of his seat is embroidered “Breezy”. Could mean anything, I guess. Here comes someone in a bed. Sounds good to me. I’ll bet there are about 250 people in Steinman Hall which is a multi-purpose room used as a church, auditorium and assembly room. The Hall has just been redone with new everything. Looks great, but I notice a different smell that I can’t quite figure out. Here comes my Aunt and Cousins. I give up my seat and they sit in the row I had saved. I look behind and see one seat left in the row behind me. Good choice. I strike up a conversation with the lady next to me who is having a good time and the show hasn’t even started. NOW IT’S SHOW TIME! First the bell choir. Three residents with one bell each shake it to the left, to the right, overhead and too the front all led by the director of the bell choir who stands in front of them and shows them where to shake the bell. I tap my cousin Susan on the shoulder and ask if she has a pen. I can see I’m going to have to take notes for a story on my blog. After two Christmas carols the audience is getting antsy. I’ll tell you, the Bell Choir director is truly a saint. Next comes “I Love Christmas”, A Musical Review. There are 15 members, my mother being one of them. The director has a great voice with good volume. It is definitely needed. One Christmas melody blends into another and really keeps the crowd clapping throughout. Then, here comes Santa!! A member of the staff works his way around the room hugging, kissing and shaking hands. Along the way he does cartwheels and handstands. Gets the crowd in a frenzy. My seat mate is going wild. A few rows in front of me I see movement. Here comes Mary and Joseph.......and “Sparky”! Sparky is a pony who is playing the donkey. Pretty neat for a retirement home!! Sparky reaches the front of the hall and decides he needs something to eat. That’s what that smell was, hay for Sparky. There is a microphone near him and you can hear him eating and chewing the carrot they give him and tapping out a code on the hardwood floor with his hoof. And the smell is also the pile that has developed behind Sparky. Baby Jesus suddenly appears from behind Mary and attracts the interest of Sparky. Next appear Shepherds and Angels. All parts are played by employees of Moravian Manor. Three of the Angels perform; two sing songs and the third plays a beautiful interpretation of “Ave Maria” on the violin. Now that brought tears to my eyes. Then the Wisemen enter. I look up front and see one of the shepherds with a bright red face and sweating profusely. Getting hot in the hall. Another shepherd, a young boy, has been picking his nose for most of the pageant. I guess they also did that back in those days. The choir director starts playing “Silent Night” and all join in. Really impressive presentation. The lady next to me agrees, but says with all seriousness, “I was expecting a camel!” It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.