Despite my best efforts to forestall the arrival of December (I'm sorry, I swear I tried!), the holidays are here. How did they get here so fast? I've often wondered about this issue—how we perceive time. When I was a little girl, my father explained that time passed slowly for me because at age six, a year was one sixth of my life, so relatively speaking, a year was a long time that seemed to pass slowly. I've been thinking about this, and I have a different explanation. At age 6, everything is new and full of details to be learned. At age 60 (okay, 67!), you don't need to pay attention to many experiences because you already understand them, and you don't experience a sense of time passing, even though it is definitely passing! But your sense of time slows down again when you find yourself exploring something new and need to focus attention on new details. It speeds up again once you're no longer focused on the new thing. Does that make sense? As my people say, "It's a theory."

I hope your Thanksgiving was peaceful, and didn't pass too quickly. I also hope that the remaining winter holidays delight you. We have much to be thankful for—and that's important to remember, even though much is—now and always—unknown about the future.

AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES

I'm really looking forward to some upcoming gigs and I hope you can join me! Saturday, December 7, Carlo Calabi, Cori Calabi, and I will be singing at the Bale Grist Mill in Calistoga. The historic Bale Mill hearkens back to 1846, one of only two water-driven mills west of the Mississippi when it produced flour that would be transported to the Gold Country for the miners by wagon. Operated by the Napa Valley State Park Association, the holiday event is their first since the pandemic. Children can write letters to Santa, you can make rosemary wreaths, string cranberry garlands, cut paper snowflakes, and see live demonstrations of traditional grain milling. And you can hear us sing—and sing along with us! for more information go to www.napavalleystateparks.org.

Next, I'll be among the "cavalcade of callers" at Triskaidekaphobia, and event to celebrate the life of Kirston Koths, who recently passed away. The dance will be held—you guessed it—on December 13, from 7:00 - 10:00 at the Hillside Club in North Berkeley. It will feature dances written by Kirston, and opportunities to share stories about him. Daniel Steinberg and Rodney Miller will anchor the band. More information can be found here.

I'll be the caller for a January 25 Family Dance in San Rafael. All ages welcome and it sounds like this will be a blast for the whole family from 2 - 4:00pm.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, Libby McLaren and I will be back at the Hillside Club for our cycle of harmony-singing workshops. Details are on my website, but save March 15, 22 & 29 for our 3-part series: the beginning workshop starts you with simple rounds and is followed by our second workshop which focuses on singing a more challenging harmony part for a song. The third workshop is perfect if you want to learn how to craft your own harmonies using a trio of strategies that are not hard to master. We are also trying to see if we can offer the beginning workshop in Napa—just to gauge interest. I'll announce that when it's firmly arranged!

MY SON IS A PILOT

I usually don't write much about my kids, but my son Webster is doggedly working away at getting his commercial pilot's license. He recently flew me from Davis to Red Bluff for coffee and a burger, and it was a lot of fun. Don't we look cool? I'm learning all sorts of acronyms (for example, CFI = certified flight instructor) and things about airplanes I never thought to wonder about. Flying is magic!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CELIA!