From where I was standing in the window of Fingerlakes Photography in Skaneateles NY I watched Christmas hit central New York. I was unable to display at a craft fair that I always have, reasons of my own stupidity actually, I confused the week ends. My friend John Francis Mc Carthy said bring your stuff and set up in my shop for a few weekends, maybe make up some of what you missed out on. So I did.

Skaneateles has people in Christmas Carol costumes wander the village, sing carols, talk in dialect, be picturesque, and sell the odd chestnut. Great fun and a business draw to the community. The town crier, a Mr. Lawdley-Bellows (MMario) came into the shop with a prim and proper Head Mistress. They took time from their rounds and regaled us with song and then we shook hands and chatted a bit while I sold a few bracelets.

A short while later the duo of Merry Mischief, Wayne and Marilyn Fuller came in and gave me a holiday kiss but as I don't eat chocolate I got hug and a squeeze instead. The sang "Hey Ho No Body Home" in a delightful harmony unusual in married people.

Later on as the dark was coming on and the actors were heading back to become just folks again, MMario stood in the street and sang just loud enough to hear the occasional word, "Holy night" , "Saviour" , A weary World." "Night Devine." a small child watched and listened in rapt attention as this big man just stood alone and sang.

This is spirit of giving as I see it. A fiend gave me space to help me gain what I may have lost when by doing so he must be loosing something of his own wealth. Friends stopped by to share a hello and song. And a stranger unknowingly gave a small boy the gift of a song. And all about shared in the benefit.

The fascination is probably none of the givers realized that a gift was being given. And these are the gifts that will continue to be given by people who are unaware of their generosity and the recievers, like my self and the boy in the street, will remember the moment and cherrish them.

Don