This Autumn and Winter have been trying, worrisome, dark and frightening and the pace of pain seems to have gathered momentum with hideous new records of daily death from COVID-19, a world economy staggering under that same shadow and a foul odor coming from the world’s most gleaming democracy. Life seemed to have run aground everywhere I looked.
And then Christmas rolled around and my friends, Joana Sancha, Sónia Calheiros and Nuno Resende, along with the board of ANTIGA WAVE concocted a scheme to play Santa to a number of orphanages in Viana do Castelo…and my heart started beating again. All the kids, 43 in total, wrote Santa letters which were gathered at Joana’s restaurant and then distributed among our friends and the board of ANTIGA WAVE. We fulfilled their Santa Wishes down to the correct manufacturer and model number of the Karaoke Machine! For all kids who find themselves in an orphanage, the moments of carefree joy and hope are sparse, but this Christmas for these kids was an exception…I’ve rarely seen such satisfaction and happiness. Of course, being the fat guy in the crowd, I was designated Santa and we delivered Christmas in a big moto with a sidecar. The whole affair was delicious; we recommend it for what ails you and we feel deep gratitude toward those of you who participated.
And as if to prove that good comes to those who seek it, our friend, Flora Silva introduced us to the city council of Viana do Castelo, which, led by Carlota Borges and Ricardo Carvalhido, has agreed to form a public/private partnership with ANTIGA WAVE to teach school kids how to assemble nesting box kits that will be installed throughout Viana and which will attract many more birds and more species of birds. Each nesting box will be sponsored by the families and friends of the kids with donations to help feed the needy. This is the sort of government we’ve been seeking. This is true community!
I wish every reader a safe and more hopeful year than the one we have just shed. I wish my country peace and calm. I wish I will be Santa again next year! I wish I had a toy tugboat…Wait! Wait!…what is this?
2 thoughts on “Hope in the Middle of Crisis”
Bad times but good feelings from you to all of us. You know well how to turn around and spread goodness.
By that nice colored quantity of Bird Houses you have assembled it seems we will have fun to find places to hang them. Good sunny days for you Hendons
Thank you so much, Alex…we miss hooting with you and we’re so looking forward to getting out of quarantine at some point soon! Hang in. Hang in.
This Autumn and Winter have been trying, worrisome, dark and frightening and the pace of pain seems to have gathered momentum with hideous new records of daily death from COVID-19, a world economy staggering under that same shadow and a foul odor coming from the world’s most gleaming democracy. Life seemed to have run aground everywhere I looked. 
And then Christmas rolled around and my friends, Joana Sancha, Sónia Calheiros and Nuno Resende, along with the board of ANTIGA WAVE concocted a scheme to play Santa to a number of orphanages in Viana do Castelo…and my heart started beating again. All the kids, 43 in total, wrote Santa letters which were gathered at Joana’s restaurant and then distributed among our friends and the board of ANTIGA WAVE. 
We fulfilled their Santa Wishes down to the correct manufacturer and model number of the Karaoke Machine! For all kids who find themselves in an orphanage, the moments of carefree joy and hope are sparse, but this Christmas for these kids was an exception…I’ve rarely seen such satisfaction and happiness. Of course, being the fat guy in the crowd, I was designated Santa and we delivered Christmas in a big moto with a sidecar. The whole affair was delicious; we recommend it for what ails you and we feel deep gratitude toward those of you who participated.
And as if to prove that good comes to those who seek it, our friend, Flora Silva introduced us to the city council of Viana do Castelo, which, led by Carlota Borges and Ricardo Carvalhido, has agreed to form a public/private partnership with ANTIGA WAVE to teach school kids how to assemble nesting box kits that will be installed throughout Viana and which will attract many more birds and more species of birds. Each nesting box will be sponsored by the families and friends of the kids with donations to help feed the needy. This is the sort of government we’ve been seeking. This is true community! 
I wish every reader a safe and more hopeful year than the one we have just shed. I wish my country peace and calm. I wish I will be Santa again next year! I wish I had a toy tugboat…Wait! Wait!…what is this?
Bad times but good feelings from you to all of us. You know well how to turn around and spread goodness.
By that nice colored quantity of Bird Houses you have assembled it seems we will have fun to find places to hang them. Good sunny days for you Hendons
Thank you so much, Alex…we miss hooting with you and we’re so looking forward to getting out of quarantine at some point soon! Hang in. Hang in.
Hendon