Today was the day of the Weihnachtsfeier on ward 2L. (Why does that remind me of the 13 steps up and 13 steps down in the yard?) We got ready for 2.30 and went out to the corridor from where we could watch through the glass into the dining room where the hospital choir, Oberärzte and all, had assembled to sing Christmas carols. They sang really well. It almost felt a bit like Christmas would feel. A few people were crying a bit, I held back the tears.
We discovered there is a (protestant) priest in the hospital, he read out the nativity.
He also quoted Berthold Brecht – which I found surprising for a priest, given Brechts opinions about the church and things (just check out ‘Galileo’).
Though the whole affair was a bit strange, standing in the corridor, no access to tea and biscuits (!) for us, it brought a sense of Christmas and the festive season. I was thinking all the time that we really should be “Driving home for Christmas”. That’s what Christmas is all about. It’s not, not about being in a hospital, on the ward (or is it “in” the ward?).
Well I’m moving down that line
And it’s been so long
But I will be there
Beside ‘Stille Nacht’ they also sang ‘Halleluja’ by Leonard Cohen, which I also found strange and very much along the lines of the nuns singing the Beatles’ ‘Imagine’ without getting the line ‘…and no religion too’! 🙂
There was a time when you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
I mean… Yes, there is a Hallelujah, but even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of Song, with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah…
It’s this thing about the English language, you get bits and pieces of it and you go “hallelujah”, it’s Christmas!
Most of the patients, there were about a dozen or so out of the around 30 on the ward (by the way: would it change the meaning if I’d said “in” the ward?), most of them a multiple in age of Patrick’s, most of the patients just enjoyed this half an hour of distraction.
There was even a group from the hospital’s kindergarten who sang a few songs and got a few presents in return. Everybody was happy.
Half an hour of distraction. A glimpse of what has been going on in the world outside for weeks. A glimpse of what life could be. Feeling, empathy, love, life and all. Well, we’re moving down that line. And it’s been so long, but we will be there.
This is the second Christmas Pádraig is in hospital. This year, he is so much better than he was last year. Next year, he won’t be anywhere near a hospital. We’ll be driving home. Or better: Sailing Home. In the Dreamboat. Promise.
[Don’t forget to tell everyone about the Dreamboat and Amhrán do Pádraig!
Today’s German Music Tip
Stille Nacht
What’s hot
Weihnachtsfeier
What’s cold
Weihnachtsfeier
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Weihnachtsfeier
Hospi-Tales 
Nice to get an insight into Christmas in Germany and the kind of songs they sing there at this time of year. As a teacher of English as a Foreign Language I would tell my students that ‘on’ the ward is the usual preposition and because it is a collocation. But ‘in’ the ward would still mean the same thing. However ‘in hospital’ means admitted as a patient whereas ‘at the hospital’ means visiting there. I hope and pray that Padraig will continue his recovery and that inspite of his situation this year he, you and all the Schaler family have a lovely Christmas! Very best wishes from Dublin 1!
Thank you, Margaret! Pádraig will continue with his recovery, we just have to be very patient and stay with him. Christmas can be a difficult time for so many people for so many different reasons. At least we will all be together. A good and peaceful Christmas to you and yours too! And thank you for your thoughts and prayers that help us get through these difficult times.