The "I'll Have A Head Of Lettuce With My 'Halleluyah Chorus'" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Had such a great time reminiscing with old friends while partici- pating in the Lancaster County "Hallelujah Flash Mob" in preparation for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.  Three years ago I had the privilege of singing in a "flash mob", which is an informal gathering of people who gather to sing and bring joy to others during the Christmas season.  

LDub on left and Eddie on the right.

Enjoyed it so much that I did it last year as well as this year.  The organizer of the "flash mob" is David who is a bundle of energy who loves to sing and talk with anyone willing to talk with him.  This year we had two practices which were attended by about 50 singers each evening.  During the second practice he told everyone in attendance that the local Fulton Opera House singers would join us as well as another Lancaster County music ensemble who also asked if they too could join with everyone to sing.  Saturday, December 22 arrived and my wife Carol and I headed to Lancaster Central Market in the center of town for our first performance.  Lancaster's Central Market is the oldest market house in the country.  

David directing the Halleluyah Chorus on the square in Lancaster

The place was filled with holiday shoppers and at 9:00 am the "Flash Mob" broke into song as the shoppers stood and enjoyed our group's A cappella rendition of Handel's Messiah's Hallelujah Chorus.  As a child I sang in St. James' Episcopal Church's boys choir.  There were about 20 boys who sang every Sunday during church as well as making visits to other locations to perform Christian music.  

On the square in downtown Lancaster, PA.  LDub and his
daughter-in-law's mother Etta (both with red hats on) sing along.

I have lost touch with most of those friends from the past, but this year I had the pleasure to reunite with two former choir members, Doug and Eddie.  I invited both to join me in the "Flash Mob".  Doug chose to come and listen while Eddie joined the group, just as he had done last year.  After our market performance we walked to the nearby Marriott Hotel on the square in Lancaster and sang once again.  

Friends Eddie (front row 2nd from left), Doug (front 4th from left) and LDub (next to minister on front right).  Photo from 1958.  Click on image to enlarge.

A third appearance was around the huge Lancaster's Christmas tree in the center of town.  A bit windy, but the music sounded great once again.  Under David's direction, the singers performed while cars slowed down to listen to the 3 minutes and 53 seconds of beautiful music.  

Photo of the boy's and men's choir of St. James.  Doug is 4th boy from left if front while LDub is the cute kid in the dead center-front with his hair falling on his forehead.  Eddie had missed the photo.

Eddie wished me a Merry Christmas as he had other commitments while Carol and I headed to Whole Foods supermarket for one more round of halleluyah's.  We arrived and there was Doug and his wife who came to listen to the final performance of the morning.  The produce department of the supermarket was filled with shoppers who all stopped their shopping at approximately 10:45 to listen to Handel's Halleluyah Chorus.  We sat with Doug and his wife and Carol's friend Marg and her husband as we enjoyed a muffin and beverage from the store.  The day was a true success and meeting some of my good friends from the 1950s made it that much more enjoyable.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - Enjoy the Lancaster "Flash Mob"