[PRCo] Re: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[John Swindler]

I'll always remember a Christmas holiday during Desert Storm.  My unit was 
stationed overseas in Rotterdam at the time, and we found out that there 
would be a Messiah sing along at a church in nearby Delft.  Several of us 
swiped a van (ok, 'borrowed') and drove to Delft for the concert.  Great 
concert, great venue with the choir in the balcony, but my highlight was the 
opportunity to watch several  red and white PCC cars - double articulated - 
gliding along the snow covered streets before and after the concert.  Seem 
to recall one of the other officers mentioning something along the lines of: 
  "you knew they were here, didn't you?"

And yes, Dennis, even the Dutch knew when to stand during the performance.

John




>From: "Dennis F. Cramer" <dfc1 at alltel.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: HAPPY HOLIDAYS
>Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 06:09:17 -0500
>
>     The holiday season to me includes a few wonderful childhood memories 
>of
>shopping in McKeesport in the late 50's with the B&O, trolleys and snow.
>Setting up the Lionel trains was a major undertaking and my brother and I
>worked until everything was just right.
>     Having moved to a rural county at the age of nine gave me 
>opportunities
>I never imagined.  Performing the Hallelujah Chorus at church on Christmas
>Eve when everyone knew the tradition of standing.  Knowing that Handel, 
>with
>tears streaming down his face after he had finished putting the chorus to
>paper, told his manservant that he had just seen God and all the Heavens
>before him made the experience more glorious.
>     For the past few years, I have played a small church in the tiny 
>village
>of Yatesboro and I always think of that first performance of Silent Night 
>in
>Germany, where the organ failed and the hymn was sung with guitar
>accompaniment.  No fanfares, no glitter, just humble worshippers.
>     The cartoonist, Charles Schultz, said it best in his 1965 production 
>of
>A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Linus lets us all in on the true meaning of
>Christmas in a very simple way.  The house lights darken in the school
>auditorium, a single spotlight illuminates Linus and he tells the world:
>     Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy.  For born today in the city 
>of
>Bethlehem is our savior, Christ the Lord.
>     Such a simple story of the demonstration of peace, love and joy to the
>world.  Celebrate the holidays and the entire year with the same message:
>Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men.
>
>Dennis F. Cramer--Teacher-Trombonist-Historian-Conductor
>www.geocities.com/armconband
>
>

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