The "Magic of Christmas: A Pageant" Story

It was an ordinary day. Working at the Gallery in Neffsville. Told Keith, my boss, that I was leaving at 1:30 PM to head to Moravian Manor for my mom's Christmas show that she was in at 2:00 PM. Even at age 88 she still loves to sing in the choir. She gets the center front seat in the choir. Not because she is the best singer, but because she is the senior member, doesn't need a wheelchair or walker, and usually stays awake during the concerts. I got there at 1:40 and headed to my mom's room to put my jacket on her bed. Walked in her room and she was sound asleep in her chair. She woke as soon as she heard me moving around. I asked her what time she had to be ready for the show. "I have to be there at 2:00." I told her I thought that was the time of the show and she said it wasn't until 2:30. I checked my pocket calendar and it said the show was at 2:00. I marked that in the calendar last week when I asked at the desk in the PC unit where mom lives. Oh, well. I have some time to kill. Mom first shows me the TV room and the huge banner that the staff constructed for her. They taped in on the wall under the big screen TV. I could see the excitement in her eyes as she was telling me about finding it in the morning when she went to breakfast. Mom and I walked to Steinman Hall at 2:00 and she sees a few of the choir members and tells me she has to go and prepare for the show. I headed to the Cafe for some ice cream and a soda. At 2:15 I wandered over and found a seat next to Gwen, one of mom's friends. The left side of the auditorium is filled with folding chairs while the right side is empty. Then the staff starts to bring in everyone who is confined to a wheelchair. Unbelievable the amount of residents in wheelchairs. The stage looked great with the panels painted by some of the residents to resemble a house with a lit tree in the corner. Then I took a look at the program and couldn't believe the magnitude of it. The choir is supposed to sing nine songs and then everyone will join in for eight more songs. Before the Nativity Story was presented, staff members entered the stage and removed the painted panels to reveal other panels with the manger scene on them. Now, that drew a round of applause from the audience. Then the Nativity Story began. The Nativity Story had Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, Angels, and Kings. Each group was introduced by a song with multiple verses and a song or two was thrown in along the way. All participants were staff members of Moravian Manor. By the end of the show I was exhausted. I could just imagine how the residents must feel. As soon as the choir director wished everyone a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year, the crowd gave a round of applause. Wow, they are awake now. I waited for the staff to return all the wheelchair bound residents, then headed to the choir chairs for my mom. She told me she wanted to go back to her room and sit on her chair. The folding chair she was sitting on for the last 2 hours or more was a little hard on the butt. She did have a great time dressed with her red Santa hat and hearing and singing her favorite carols. But, supper is coming and NO ONE is late for that! I gave her a kiss and told her to call me tonight before she goes to bed. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Pixs from the top are the sign in the TV room made for mom by the staff, mom singing in the choir (second from the right belting out the song), and the Nativity Story on stage.