The cantata is finally done, and with it, the last of the big holiday responsibilites. I feel like I can finally heave a huge sigh of relief and focus on nothing more complicated than finishing the gift knitting, mailing out the last of the Christmas cards, and looking forward to Christmas and time off and family and fun.

This afternoon, in between cantata in the morning and cantata at night, I went to the knitting group at the bakery. It was a small group there, but that was actually preferrable, since we were all working furiously on holiday knitting and appreciated the distinct lack of noise and crazy that sometimes happens when it's a much larger crowd.

The recorder group practiced this morning, before cantata rehearsal, and even though it was kind of messy, I am remaining optimistic that it will sound far better by next Sunday. The cantata rehearsal wasn't nearly as fumbly as yesterday, and the performance during the morning service went surprisingly well; better, in fact, than the evening performance, at least as far as I could tell. By this evening I was exhausted and struggling for the low notes, and the other tenor was also tired and struggling for the high notes, so luckily between the two of us we covered the range, but still, it sounded as if a number of the other singers and musicians were feeling the same way. I think I am not the only one who is very, very glad it is over.

Tis the season for Holidailies