Christmastide 2008 Night #2...

Tonight was evening number two of my Christmastide 2008 venture, however, today marks the traditional First Day of Christmas as well. After work and walk with Portia I came home and had a quick meal of leftover Krab Salad and crackers...Eventually, I was able to get around to watching movie #3 Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) this 2005 foreign film was inspired by the Christmas Eve 1914 front-line soldiers of the German, French, and English lines who met in "No Man's Land" on the battlefield and observed a Christmas ceasefire that was only observed by those soldiers in those locations...unbeknownst to their superiors, who would eventually come down very hard on these soldiers once their actions became known....

I must admit that I am not usually a big fan of foreign films, but this movie is incredible...truly. There is very little I can say about it other than that. If you have not seen it...go find a copy and watch it as soon as you can. This is an excellent movie for all seasons, but especially on Christmas Day. It has been hard for me these last few days to be so far from friends and family, spending the holidays working, making memories on my own...but watching this film tonight was a real blessing to me if for no other it showed you can make your own holiday in any condition and enviroment and it included an amazing song, Hymne des Fraternises. What an incredibly powerful song. I have decided to end tonight's blog by posted the words as well as a video of this song:

"I hear the mountain birds
The sound of rivers singing
A song I've often heard
It flows through me now
So clear and so loud
I stand where I am
And forever I'm dreaming of home
I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home

It's carried in the air
The breeze of early morning
I see the land so fair
My heart opens wide
There's sadness inside
I stand where I am
And forever I'm dreaming of home
I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home

This is no foreign sky
I see no foreign light
But far away am I
From some peaceful land
I'm longing to stand
A hand in my hand
...forever I'm dreaming of home
I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home"