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.
This series was conceived as a haven where folks can drop in to share conversation, ideas, weather reports, and music. Feel free to leave a note, comment, picture, or tune. As always the diarist gets to sleep in, and may show up long after the post is published. So you know, it's a feature, not a bug.
Pull up a chair, get your cup of tea, coffee, or other favorite morning beverage and join us for a neighborly start to the day ahead.
Nine years ago, two teenagers auditioned on the TV show, Britain’s Got Talent. They were billed as “Charlotte and Jonathan.” Charlotte was 16 and Jonathan 17. They explained that Jonathan was painfully shy, due in part to his great weight. Charlotte was his shadow and protector. They both had wonderful singing voices for their ages, and ended up winning second place in the competition. They were offered recording contracts, almost unheard of for such young teenagers.
Since that time, Charlotte and Jonathan have taken different career paths. Jonathan was offered admittance to at least four prestigious music academies, the European equivalent of Julliard in America.
Jonathan has largely overcome his shyness and anxiety problems. Has he ever!
Jonathan Antoine has recorded a Christmas album. This lovely Christmas Carol is on the album, recorded during a live performance:
Another Christmas classic:
Another song from his 2021 Christmas album. These Are The Special Times (Momenti Splendidi)
Not a Christmas Carol, but a beautiful operatic rendition of John Denver’s Country Roads, recorded during the pandemic lockdown. The visuals in this video are both breathtaking and heartbreaking reminders of the past two years.
Our hope and prayer for our Motley Crew, those with us now and those who have gone on to other things, is that this holiday season finds everyone well. May you have time and space with those you love most. This is a time for reflection, meditation, and prayer, however it is you pray in your own way.
This season must not be about commercialization. In fact, if one goes shopping, you take your life—and the lives of those you love—in your hands. Socks reminded me of that earlier when I mentioned going shopping. Being at high risk, I stayed home instead.
Hold your love close. In these times, we must all live as if this could be our last Christmas and New Year. It will be for far too many of our fellow humans. We pray that our whole crew will be together this time next year.
From our home to yours, wherever you may be, our Christmas wish for you is happiness, health, and a joyful year to come.
Wednesday Lagniappe:
Justin Johnson has just released a new video of acoustic Christmas music. Christmas blues on an acoustic resonator guitar.
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