We were blessed to have eight tickets given to us for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert! This may not be a big deal to most folks, but to me it is a very BIG DEAL! It is one of the highlights of the Christmas season for me, and I somehow feel sleighted when I can't get hold of tickets. Mindy, David and their four oldest made the journey, pulling the kids out of school early...an added bonus for them...and made it to town just in time to quickly change clothes, enjoy a yummy meal at the Blue Lemon restaurant (one of our favorites and Sadie's choice) and then dash...as much as you can dash on the crowded freeway during the traffic hour...to the Conference Center.
The guests this year were Alfie Boe (famed for his superb performance as Jean Valjean in the 25th anniversary production of "Les Miserables,") and Tom Brokaw (of news/reporting and broadcasting fame.) Three highlights/standing ovations/tears flowing down the cheeks moments were: Alfie's performance of "Bring Him Home" from Les Mis, Richard Elliott's arrangement extraordinaire of "Sleigh Ride" on the organ, and the best of all, Tom Brokaw's recounting of the story of the post WW II food drops over divided Berlin, and in particular Hal Halverson's heroic efforts as the Candy Bomber ( I had recently read Halverson's story in the book, "The Candy Bombers") and how he made countless runs over Berlin sending candy down to the children in small parachutes. And then, as if by magic, small parachutes with candy fell from the "sky" of the conference center all over the lower level. It was magical! Vintage pictures were cast up on a flowy white screen of a wide grinning Halverson and the precious children behind barbed wire fences as the story unfolded. And then after Brokaw finished his narrative, the "screen" lifted and there was 92 year old Hal Halverson in person! The audience jumped to it's feet and clapped and wiped tears as this real life hero humbly accepted our cheers and gratitude. It was the highlight of the evening for me! But still I anticipated the choir and guest artist singing, as their finale, "Angels from the Realms of Glory." So very beautiful. The choir, and entire production and setting/lighting, guests....all get an A+!
The evening was so "warm" for a December night that we took the time to stroll through Temple Square and the new City Creek shopping mall....all spectacular! The boys were thrilled with the added bonus of running into BYU star basketball player Tyler Haws...had their picture taken with him, and had smiles on their faces for the rest of the night! So "starstruck!" It was adorable.
Mindy and her family headed home the next day right after lunch. Short, too short really, but still wonderful. I was grateful that the weather was good as it never stopped snowing the next day...big snow day! We'll be heading to Boise in a week!
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