And The Gifts Just Keep Coming!

      I thought I had opened all the presents either
Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. But that
was not the case!
      Yesterday, the day after Christmas we loaded
the van with my wife, one daughter, two grand kids
and my buddy's wife and headed off to Scranton to
catch "The Nutcracker" presented by the Ballet
Theater of Scranton and Marywood University at
the school.
       Neither my son-in-law or my buddy joined
the expedition. They had their assorted reasons.
        But somewhere, down deep, I still wonder
if the thought of watching a lot of girls in tutus
dancing on their toes challenged their "guy
image." If so they would have been surprised
to see all the gentlemen, some very prominent,
in the audience!
        And besides, this annual performance is
truly a Christmas gift! The Ballet Theater and
Marywood have been offering it to the community
free of charge since 1976!  Artistic Director
Joanne Arduino helps keep alive the tradition
started by Constance Reynolds.



       It was a delightful show and Tchaikovsky's
music seems perfectly fitted for the Christmas
season.
       We had the pleasure of meeting some
of the lead dancers and getting a look backstage
after the ballet, then headed for Nay Aug Park
where the Holiday Light Display was as
beautiful as ever.
        And, since it's after December 25th, there
were no long lines!
        Many homes near the park, and in other
sections of Scranton, are decorated with lights
and displays from porch o roof!
        And, by the way, YOU HAVEN'T MISSED
 OUT!
        The Nutcracker will  be presented today
and Wednesday at 2 and 7:30pm at Marywood
and you can stop at the box office there two
hours before each performance to get as many
tickets as you need.
         And guys...you don't have to dance!
         You just sit there and enjoy the talent
and the music. You'll look good to your
'significant other!'
         The Christmas lights at Nay Aug will
be glowing till "Russian Christmas" on or
about January 7th. And it's a pretty good
bet many of the homes with elaborate
lights and decorations will still be showing
them off a while longer since it obviously
took so long to put them up!
         If you got a bit frazzled getting ready
for Christmas this is your chance to just hop
in the car, drive to Scranton, and let the
sights and sounds of the season do the work
while you sit back and enjoy them!
        They're FREE kids! Hope you enjoy
them and that all your NEWS is good!