Actually one day before the solstice, I came out to the bus stop after doing a bit of shopping in the Back Bay and saw this amazing sunset glow in the western sky. The lights on the trees in the foreground are just coming into view as it darkens. That's the Christian Science Church in the background.
Today, on the winter solstice, Peter and I had a lovely tea in the restaurant at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Going there always reminds me of my retirement party in May 2014, which I chose to have there -- an afternoon tea for twenty-one current and retired faculty of Massachusetts College of Art, one of three retirement parties I had in my final two weeks at MassArt after thirty-two years.
After our tea today, we walked down to the theater district to see Brian O'Donovan's "Celtic Christmas Sojourn," one of the best Christmas events every year. Brian O'Donovan immigrated from Ireland many years ago and has a famous Celtic music program on one of our public radio stations. He's a really nice person and still speaks with his delightful, lilting Irish accent. The Christmas show includes musicians from Ireland, Scotland, and this year the Canadian Maritimes, children from the famous Harney Academy of Irish Dance as well as adult step dancers, and Brian reading poetry and telling stories about the Christmases he remembers growing up in Clonakilty, Cork. It's a magical, heartwarming experience full of true Christmas spirit.
