Christmas 2018
It was a packed audience. The twenty-eight-hundred seat Paramount Theater had standing room only for the city of Seattle’s premier Christmas Benefit Concert.
Itsuki and Nancy peered through the curtains to the theater floor from back stage. Wow, it really is a full house.
The Holiday performers were magnificent, getting everyone in the Christmas spirit on that cold and snowy evening in December. Dr. Thompson served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and came back on stage to introduce the final act.
“Wow, weren’t they all wonderful? Let’s give the performers, musicians, backstage crew and Paramount workers another big round of applause. Before I introduce our final performer, I’d like to announce that because of your generosity, tonight we have raised over $ 500,000 dollars for the Pacific Northwest Children’s Foundation to support children in crises in our community throughout the year and help them have a Merrier Christmas. Please give yourself a round of applause as well for letting them know they’re not forgotten.”
“And now sit back ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. It is my great pleasure to introduce Seattle’s favorite son. The very talented Itsu.” When he was announced as the final and featured performer, he embraced Nancy and gave her a kiss then ran out on stage with his arms held high, wearing Annie’s ugly Holiday sweater and was greeted with joyous screams and a standing ovation from his hometown crowd.
“Merry Christmas Seattle” reverberated throughout the theater as he took a bow and then a seat on the bench of the black Steinway concert grand piano. He then motioned the other performers of the evening assembled backstage to come out and join him, adding to the joyful applause and Holiday atmosphere.
“Before I start, Jim, would you please turn up the house and stage lights?”
“Nancy, what’s he doing?” Jim whispered. Nancy smiled and said,
“How else are you gonna see the faces?”
Jim contacted the electrician and the lights slowly flickered on.
“There, that’s great. I just wanted to see the glow in your beautiful faces. . .” The entire theater felt like one big family, celebrating Christmas love. The crowd fell silent with anticipation. Looking around he saw his father Seth, seated in the front row with the rest of his family, sending him a smile and a wink.
They had come a long way since that first day together, when they became a family. Merry Christmas dad, I love you. With closed tearful eyes, Itsuki started the pianissimo to his opening song, The First Noel.
Families are made up of all sorts of different people from diverse situations. Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life. If you were born with the ability to change someone’s life, don’t ever waste it. As Seth said, “whatever the circumstances, children belong to the people that love them.”
Have a Joyous Holiday, either in person or virtually, gathered around the same table or miles apart, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s spent with the one’s you love.