Had a great time today, singing carols at a Veteran's Center, as I said. As a surprise, one of the older Vets (World War II, I'd guess) brought his trumpet and came and played with us. That's always a special pleasure. Many years ago, I was singing at a nursing home, and very early in the program, someone requested a turn of the century song I'd never heard of... something with Mother, God and telephone in the title. I told the person that I didn't know it, but if someone did, they should sing it. And by Golly, darned if a couple of people didn't... and sang it in weak, ready voices, with great conviction. They felt so good about it, that someone else asked if anyone knew another song from the same era (another I didn't know, although I have an extensive collection of popular music from the turn of the century, and know at least a half dozen I could do.) Again, somebody knew it, and started singing. Several others joined in. And they were off to the races.
Everyone was very excited, and as soon as one song was finished, somebody would suggest another. I was delighted, and unobtrusively packed up my guitar and wished everyone a good day. They hardly noticed that I was leaving. The person in charge of the program was very upset with the residents, and extremely apologetic. I told her that something wonderful had happened: that they realized that they could entertain themselves! She didn't seem convinced, but I thought that it was beautiful. As I was leaving, I could hear tentative strains of God Bless America coming from the room. They were just enjoying singing together, and it didn't really make that much of a difference what it was that they were singing.

That was one of the best programs I never did.

Jerry