Ruth told me the other day that she wanted to play the Grinch at the annual Mansion Christmas Party. When she told me she had a mischievous glint in her eye as she said it, she seemed to relish the idea. Ever since Ruth mysteriously began playing the piano a week ago, a new and different Ruth is showing up.

Ruth is revealing another side, a sweet side, a warm side. Today, at the Mansion Christmas party, she called me over, asked for a big (we don’t do full hugs anymore, just elbow bumps. Today, the new Ruth gave me a huge bear hug and told me she loved me. She was beaming. A few hours earlier, she showed up at Maria’s monthly art class and went to work making some sachets – the lesson project – so she would have some classy things to give her family when they came to visit.

We bought five or six Christmas costumes for the Mansion

She made two lovely sachet’s stuffed with sweet-smelling dried pine that Maria bought.

Afterward, she put on the Gringe costume (one of eight different Christmas costumes we sent to the Mansion and marched around the Mansion, delighting the residents.  Ruth tried to look grumpy and grinch-like, but this time, they couldn’t. She was smiling, sweet, talkative.

This got me thinking a bit about music. The history of music and people goes back about 40,000 years. It has always been a part of our lives, our history. It has always had the power to stir us, open us up, excite and comfort us. Perhaps Ruth’s re-discovery of her hidden piano opened her up. Maybe it was yet another of those Christmas musicals we sometimes hear about.

It was pretty sweet to see it, no matter what the cause. Ruth and I wished each other a Merry Christmas, and she told me she trusted me to surprise her with some different colors for the bathrobe I am getting for her. I will; I will.

I told Ruth she made a great Grinch, and I thought she would be delighted by the color of the bathrobe I am getting here. (It is bright  red.) I’m only getting one. Our budget is tight.

Thanks for your support in buying Christmas costumes for the Mansion Christmas Party, held today. Russell and Sharon volunteered to be Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The costumes were a huge hit. The Mansion kitchen staff cooked up a beautiful batch of cookies and treats.