Morning Open Thread is a daily, copyrighted post, from a host of editors and guest writers. We support our community, invite and share ideas, and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue in an open forum.
I’ve come to think of this series as one where you come for the music and stay for the conversation—so feel free to leave a note, comment, picture, or tune. The diarist gets to sleep in, and can show up long after the post is published. So you know, it's a feature, not a bug.
Grab your cup of tea, coffee, or wassail and join us for a break from the tedium of the day.
The winter solstice holiday season celebrates several special days. Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year, and a number of others. The holidays are a time of music, good food, gifts, friends visiting, religious observations, meditation, reflection, and rebirth. Many of these great holiday celebrations have their origins in pagan observation celebrating Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year, and the day marking the return of longer days, spring, growth, and warmer weather.
In the spirit of music, here is guitar virtuoso Jamie Dupuis with one of his harp guitars. He plays one of the most beautiful hymns: O Holy Night. This will sound much better if you use good headphones, or have really good speakers for your PC.
As for good food. My friend Jim Foreman just had his 90th birthday. He is an old flight instructor who saved my life years ago. That incident is written up in the current issue of Soaring magazine, the official journal of the Soaring Society of America. Jim is a real cowboy as well as an aviator. He is also a photographer, storyteller, and writer. He has done many magazine covers. Jim now lives in a retirement village with his beautiful wife. Currently a YouTube videographer, he makes cooking videos. His latest offering is Christmas Pickles. Be sure to click through and give him a “Like.”
Now for the Winter Solstice. No one does it better then Enya.
Here is Chris the radio announcer, from Northern Exposure with one of the greatest speeches celebrating the Winter Solstice. “Northern Lights.”
The song is Ebudae, by Enya.
I plan on reprising the famous infamous RCAF Moose Milk recipe in a future story.
Pull up your chair, get your cup of favorite morning beverage, and join us for a morning break. What’s happening in your world today?