Missing Turkeys, Music & Light
An arial photo of The Barn taken by Steve Dagg while filming for Westben’s Tree of Light! Can you spot the Christmas tree covered in lights?
Donna Bennett
Christmas Eve is one of my favourite days of the year. It’s been a long tradition in our family that we gather at our century-old farm house for an evening of hors d'oeuvres, wine, laughter, politics, and music. It is really a five way tie between them all, but depending on which room you enter it’s likely to be politics or music that wins out as the most passionate. It’s been interesting over the years seeing the size of the gatherings grow and contract as our families grow. Unfortunately, a new tradition was started two years ago around a missing turkey. Upon saying goodbye to the last of the gatherers at midnight on Christmas Eve, I realized that even though all the food for the evening was well planned and received, I had forgotten to pick up the fresh turkey for Christmas Day from Sharpe’s. Okay, once maybe, but two years in a row? Luckily my well-prepared neighbour on both occasions was the last to leave and had an extra turkey in the freezer. (It didn’t seem so funny the second year and fingers crossed that this tradition ends this year).
Music and lights are always plentiful at our house and this year will be the same yet I fear there will be fewer voices around the grand piano. The trees, however, will be full of light and hope for future gatherings. Carrying on the theme of light and hope, join us for Westben’s Christmas Special on December 12, 7 pm. This Digital Concert at The Barn, called Tree of Light, is a gathering of the community. The script is based on a short story by Christopher Cameron and the production is directed by Westben’s Artistic Director Brian Finley. Tree of Light is about an old Northumberland father who decorates the tree in his front yard, yet again, in the hope that it will once again guide his children back home for Christmas. Of course, he knows full well that this will not be the case this Christmas, but he feels the urge to continue this important tradition with unflagging hope in the future.
Chris Cameron is an author (Dr. Bartolo’s Umbrella) and editor who has recently relocated near Campbellford. His heartwarming story, Tree of Light, will be narrated by Warkworth’s own award-winning actor, Frank Moore. The Westben Youth, Teen, and Adult Choruses have been recording themselves individually at home forming an enthusiastic online choir. I will be performing an original song by Brian and other favourites from our Christmas CD, Love & Light, along with Dan Foster (tenor) and Dave Mowat (blues harp). Before the show at 6:30 pm join us for a Pre-Concert Chat with friend’s of Westben over ZOOM (e-mail westben@westben.ca to RSVP).
Tune into Westben’s Christmas Special on December 12 at 7:00 pm on Westben’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/Westben-YouTube or Digital Venue: www.westbendigitalvenue.ca.
Happy Holidays and please don’t forget your turkey!
Donna Bennett, CM, Marketing & Advancement Director
