I don’t blame you. I knew someone who uses real candles on her Christmas tree in the old German tradition, and it would give me the screaming heebeejeebies every time. She thought I was being ridiculous, because “it’s only for a few minutes,” but I am well aware that a few minutes is MORE than enough time for that tree to catch fire and take your whole house with it. I worked with someone who also kept that tradition and died of third-degree burns after the tree went up and he tried to carry it out of the house. (She had some excuse for why that was a fluke, despite, you know… fire science, and all that.) Fire is no joke.
Lit candles on a tree?? That is nuts! Such a tragic story about your coworker who died after carrying a burning tree out of the house. #Nightmares. Ugh. I hope readers use this thread as a cautionary tale to avoid lit candles in places they don't belong. I know I will.
Nancy! Once again, we had a mind meld. My Stack is focused on music this week too. When you mentioned dropping the candle, I was afraid something caught fire. Lol. Glad that the story had a less of a combustible ending. Loved reading about your healing singing journey and this pieces of music are just lovely.
Oh, jeez! It hadn't even occurred to me that someone might think it was lit! They were only lit for the processional, "Silent Night," and the recessional, so mostly, they were not a threat. I had put mine on the wire rack that was meant to hold our music folders during those times (lit candles + folders full of paper = also not a good idea!), which worked most of the time, but not if you bumped it, which I did. It clattered to the floor and rolled down to the lower riser, and that was that.
We did have a few occasions where someone's long hair was singed while we were waiting for the service to start, though! Fortunately, the smell gave those it away quickly enough for everyone to back up accordingly without a giant conflagration then, either.
Now that I'm telling you this, I think we were very lucky! It's a wonder the fire departments don't require electric candles at this point for that very reason.
Nancy, I love getting to know you better through this piece, and it's timely for me. Yesterday at church, our rector told a story in his homily about his history as a drum major in college and his passion for music. He is a senior now and has Parkinson's. After the homily, another officiant took over the mass and he went into the wings where a bass drum was waiting, and he reclaimed some of his youth by playing it during the next hymn. It brought tears to my eyes. It felt as holy as anything else that happened in the mass. This season has some inexplicably magical ability to open our hearts, doesn't it?
!!! 😆I get super nervous around menorah candles too.
I don’t blame you. I knew someone who uses real candles on her Christmas tree in the old German tradition, and it would give me the screaming heebeejeebies every time. She thought I was being ridiculous, because “it’s only for a few minutes,” but I am well aware that a few minutes is MORE than enough time for that tree to catch fire and take your whole house with it. I worked with someone who also kept that tradition and died of third-degree burns after the tree went up and he tried to carry it out of the house. (She had some excuse for why that was a fluke, despite, you know… fire science, and all that.) Fire is no joke.
Lit candles on a tree?? That is nuts! Such a tragic story about your coworker who died after carrying a burning tree out of the house. #Nightmares. Ugh. I hope readers use this thread as a cautionary tale to avoid lit candles in places they don't belong. I know I will.
Nancy! Once again, we had a mind meld. My Stack is focused on music this week too. When you mentioned dropping the candle, I was afraid something caught fire. Lol. Glad that the story had a less of a combustible ending. Loved reading about your healing singing journey and this pieces of music are just lovely.
Oh, jeez! It hadn't even occurred to me that someone might think it was lit! They were only lit for the processional, "Silent Night," and the recessional, so mostly, they were not a threat. I had put mine on the wire rack that was meant to hold our music folders during those times (lit candles + folders full of paper = also not a good idea!), which worked most of the time, but not if you bumped it, which I did. It clattered to the floor and rolled down to the lower riser, and that was that.
We did have a few occasions where someone's long hair was singed while we were waiting for the service to start, though! Fortunately, the smell gave those it away quickly enough for everyone to back up accordingly without a giant conflagration then, either.
Now that I'm telling you this, I think we were very lucky! It's a wonder the fire departments don't require electric candles at this point for that very reason.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful music!
You're so welcome, Katherine! Thanks for reading/listening! :)
Nancy, I love getting to know you better through this piece, and it's timely for me. Yesterday at church, our rector told a story in his homily about his history as a drum major in college and his passion for music. He is a senior now and has Parkinson's. After the homily, another officiant took over the mass and he went into the wings where a bass drum was waiting, and he reclaimed some of his youth by playing it during the next hymn. It brought tears to my eyes. It felt as holy as anything else that happened in the mass. This season has some inexplicably magical ability to open our hearts, doesn't it?
Well, there you go, Kelly, making me tear up *again.* 🤣 I love this story so much, and I'm so glad you shared it.