I began to write this in chronological order, but the words started to flow in different directions. Here's my kaleidoscope memory:

My visions of a Crystal Cathedral presentation dissolved the minute the shepherds arrived. Alan promptly threw-up all over me and I was transported back in time to my first year of teaching when Mr. Tim (our janitor) taught me that sawdust works wonders. "Three handfulls," he'd say and then his huge hands would dip into the bucket and toss sawdust on the wooden floors of my second grade classroom. He'd continue, "Now, Sister Jacob, the only time this won't work is if they've had a big meal before we have the play. Then it takes at least five."

One of the Magi decided he wanted to wear another of the King's outfits and wouldn't budge. Of course, Jon wouldn't give up his kingly attire. He loved it and pranced down the aisle several times before his cue. He was vested in sequins from head to toe complete with a gold lame' skirt. These costumes were leftovers from my days as Pres' wife. The clothes were much better used for kings.

The biggest surprise came when the fellow who was Joseph, decided he didn't want to be "married" to Letta who played Mary. I kept telling him, "You REALLY are not going to be married to Letta." Nothing changed his mind. There sat Letta in the straw without a Joseph until one of the tecs donned a towel, fastened it to his head and sat by her. Letta promptly leaned over and gave him the biggest smack I've ever seen. I bet Mary of Nazereth smiled on them both.

The guys from Jordan were the lectors and they did a good job. A couple readings were done out of order, but I learned a long time ago, there is no time with G*d, so what difference does it make?

The drummers were magnificent. Actually, the drumming became a mini-service within a service. It didn't matter to me how long they played. The drumming went on after the music until Tim made a final pum-pum. It seems that THEY KNOW when they are done...one of them does...and all follow suit. It was beautiful.

The opening hymn was "Lo How a Rose e're Blooming." We (the lectors and me) came in behind a star studded banner. I was in alb and stole. We started out very liturgical. One of the guys had an opening prayer of thanksgiving and praise. Then he took a rose to our CEO. She couldn't help but tear-up...gee...I knew she would. But, she also had to laugh because the fellow who gave her the rose did a little extemp..."You sure smell like a rose and you don't stink...so here's this rose to remind you to take a shower." Course, that's not what we planned but he said it so lovingly that the words, the symbols, didn't stand for anything but love.

For "Come all Ye Faithful" one of the fellows took the entrance banner and greeted the visitors. He asked them to come with him for their own procession. Yep, we did include everyone!

At the beginning we signed Silent Night. We did Silent Night at the beginning of worship and again at the end. The first was our opening "interactive" prayer. Not all the people knew all the signs but they did the signs they knew. Since the whole seating arrangement was in a large circle, there were key people (eight of the guys did this) in a smaller circle facing the larger one. They signed to the people and the people signed back. One tiny woman just rocked and rocked her imaginary baby through the whole carol. Another liked the sign for "shining bright" and continuously made bursting signs with his fingers. There was movement everywhere. Arms and fingers and rocking...prayer through movement.

When the lights went back on after the candle light procession, we broke into Joy to the World. This was our recessional. We all managed to get out in somewhat the same order we processed in! Amazing.

The shepherds were the luckiest of all. They had their baths before worship, put on their pj's and wore bathrobes. They were ready for bed shortly after they arrived back to their living homes. I wondered at one point what happened to all the sheep. Some of the more ingenious had tucked them under ponchos for retrieval later.

The buses and vans picked everyone up and I stood in the middle of an empty gym. The spirit of G*d was here. She lingered just a bit and stood there wrapping me in her arms. "All will be well...all will be well."

I closed the doors, leaving clean-up to another time.

The car was cold. The streets were empty.

The sky was filled with stars.

These same stars twinkled and blinked and showered you with their beauty.