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December 23, 2009

The gift of song on a chilly morning

Julie Huss

We awakened on Sunday morning to a gentle, fluffy snowfall, just enough to make the trees glisten and the air crisp. And enough to fill our driveways and make our morning commute to church or wherever we were headed a bit treacherous at times.

But we persevere when we have places to go and people to see. And on this particular Sunday morning, I was given a special gift by a stranger amidst the snowfall and I want to share my feelings in this column to say 'thank you.'

After I slid and skidded my way from Chester to Derry Sunday morning and took in my weekly inspiration and musical pick-me-up in the choir loft at my church, I ventured back out in the elements to grab a newspaper and head home for an afternoon of cooking and baking.

I stopped at the Irving gas station/store at the corner of Bypass 28 and Tsienneto Road, climbed out of the car, puffed to the gills by my winter coat and mittens, and headed inside to buy the paper. And standing outside by the door of the store was my gift for the day — a young man wearing a Santa Claus hat, ringing a tiny bell in his hand, and singing almost every wonderful Christmas song you can imagine.

I walked by and kept wondering to myself, "Why is this man standing here on a snowy morning, singing his heart out while bearing the brunt of a cold storm?" He wasn't ringing the bell for a local kettle drive, he didn't seem to be stopping his melodies to chat with people. He kept singing and singing in a most wonderful, clear tone that totally made my morning.

I often think to myself how lucky I am to be a singer and how fortunate I am to work with wonderful musicians from all over the state, and to have the opportunities to perform, to travel, and to give my gift of music to audiences all over the area all year long. It's what I do and I know how it makes me feel when I do it. I envision the people listening in the audience and I hope they feel they are receiving a great reward to warm their soul by being there. Music warms the heart, makes a soul strong, and does things for me that I will never, ever be able to describe.

So here is this man, standing in the snow, ringing a simple bell outside a local convenience store and sharing his gift. What a gift it was for me, and hopefully, for everyone that stopped by the Irving station this past Sunday. Good gifts come in all shapes and sizes and this was truly a wonderful gift for me. It didn't cost a cent, it didn't have to be unwrapped, and it proved to be something I could take with me the rest of my day and think about as I continue through the hectic holiday season.

I bought the paper, passed by the singing man one last time, and climbed back into my white-frosted car. And I hummed a few extra notes on the way home thanks to my singing man at the gas station.

Here is my holiday message to that man who came out in a snowstorm to share his gift of music with me and so many others — you made my day. You have a tremendous voice, and you shared a gift that I appreciated and truly took along with me as I left and went on my way. I hope others felt the same as they passed you by. Please keep sharing your gift of music with others, not only at the holidays but all year long. And thank you for what you gave me. It was one of the best things I have received so far this year.

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Julie Huss is a staff reporter at the Derry News. Her entertainment/arts column appears weekly in the Derry News. To contact her, call 421-3847 or e-mail her at jhuss@derrynews.com.

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