Day 228 - Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

I have never watched Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Admittedly, this experience doesn’t fit the normal criteria I have established for myself during the course of my “I have never...” journey. After all, I know I can’t necessarily learn anything from the experience, it isn’t something that will likely affect my life to any great degree, and it doesn’t add much to the telling of my story. That stated, the first Anchorman film has been a fixture in my life since the movie was first released in 2004. So much so that my one and half year old, Baxter, was named after Ron Burgundy’s furry sidekick that played a major role in the first film. As a result, I decided to forego my otherwise immovable “I have never...” criteria for one day this year. Sure, that means I'm bending my "I have never..." rules for this event; however, I have waited years for this movie to be released, and on the day after Christmas spending a relaxing evening with some great company was exactly what I needed.

Now, as to not ruin anything for anyone that has yet to see the film, I won’t delve into much detail about Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Instead, I will simply say that my hopes for the movie, and all the ridiculousness I knew it would bring, were not in vain. After meeting my Brother Abe, my Sister In-law Missy, and my friends, Travis and Krista, at the theater I excitedly settled into my chair before the film began. As the lights dropped and the previews played out, I braced myself for the opening of the scene. Then, the familiar voice of the greatest man to ever grace a fake local news broadcast began to bellow over the speakers. In typical fashion, Burgundy cut loose on a series of ridiculous vocal exercises before a pending broadcast, which immediately sent the crowd into roaring laughter. Within the first few minutes of the movie, I was doing my best to catch my breath between punch lines. With the movie off to a good start, I leaned in and waited for the plot to begin to take shape.

With the story taking form, we watched as Ron faced an unexpected career disaster pulled from the rubble by an opportunity to spearhead the first 24 hour new network in history. The storyline provided ample opportunity for Ron and his familiar news team to douse the airwaves with their unique brand of machismo and over-confidence, which led to plenty of laugh inducing, outlandish scenarios as the team rose to cable news fame. Although there were plenty of moments where the story seemed to lead a little bit astray, the overwhelming majority of the movie fit the profile of the Channel 4 news team’s glory days in San Diego. As a result, the movie ended up being rolling tides of laughter filled in with gaps of plot development necessary to keep the story moving.

It begins

By the time the film had begun reach a point of resolution, we had witnessed Ron Burgundy get fired; rescue his news team from selling deep fried bats, working as kitten photographers, and dying; ascend to the throne of cable news; lose his sight in a horrific jazz flute ice skating accident; nurse a baby shark to adulthood; take to the field of battle against news teams from around the world; and find his purpose as a news anchor and father. In other words, we witnessed two hours of the best kind of unadulterated ridiculousness, which made every penny of my $10 ticket price absolutely worth it.

Although I can’t say Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues reaches the legendary status among comedy films that the first Anchorman film was able to achieve, by the time the movie was finished I easily concluded my decision to bend my “I have never...” rules for a night was a good one. The movie gave me a great chance to hang out with some great people and share some laughs. Additionally, having a night out at the theater a day after Christmas was a great way to relax and begin the transition out of the holiday craziness that usually proceeds this time of year. In my opinion, that beats sitting at home with little to do but survive the cold any day of the week; especially when it is Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 news team that are breaking up the routine. Here’s to new experiences... and to staying classy, of course.

Day 227 - It's a Wonderful Life

I have never watched It’s a Wonderful Life. As a continuation to my ongoing sub-goal of seeing one classic movie I have never watched each month of my “I have never...” year, sitting down on Christmas Day to watch a film that has been associated with the holiday for decades seemed a good fit. As a result, Rachael helped me locate a time the movie would be broadcast on television during the holiday season and set up our home television system to record the broadcast. Although I didn’t look forward to the interruptions of commercial breaks during my first experience with the film, recording It’s a Wonderful Life from a television broadcast was a convenient way to gain my first experience with the film during what is easily one of the most hectic times of the year.

As a result, I settled in to watch It’s a Wonderful Life as Christmas festivities wound down around our house this afternoon. With roughly half of my family in attendance, remarks on the film were commonplace as the sights of a young George Bailey began splashing across the television screen. With scenes obviously familiar to those in attendance coming and going, statements regarding the quality of the plot and the significance of its early moments sprang from Rachael, my Mother, and my Father. It was apparent they knew the experience would leave me reflecting on meaning behind the tale and what it meant in the context of everyday life, which made me anxious to see the remaining story unfold as George’s young adult life transitioned into his role of a working man upholding his family’s legacy at a local financial institution.

Saving a life... or two.

The kindling of a flame

Finding love

With our guests slowly dissipating with the fading daylight, I said a few goodbyes during the commercial breaks of It’s a Wonderful Life before our house was emptied and the familiar quiet of Christmas night settled in. With Rachael at my side, I found a comfortable place on my sofa and wrapped myself in blankets before continuing on to the second half of the film. The onset of the Great Depression and the subsequent World War made it clear changes in George Bailey’s life were inevitable. As a man with a distaste for the sense of permanence that came with settling down and raising a family in his home town, it became clear that the struggle between George’s dreams and his commitment to his friends, family, and home was a constant undercurrent in his actions. With these elements in motion, it was clear facing that conflict was an inevitable occurrence in George Bailey’s life.

The bank run

Facing an enemy

Life, uncoupling

At first, I expected George’s struggle to be tied to one of the broader events occurring around him during the course of his life. Emerging roughly unscathed from the depression and avoiding significant harm due to World War II, it was unclear where the source of George’s conflict to emerge. As a result, I was surprised when George’s uncle caused George’s unraveling with the simple act of misplacing the family financial institution’s deposit funds on Christmas Eve. I watched as a passing mistake resulted in the Baileys’ business rival coming across the misplaced funds, which caused a significant discrepancy in the financial records of George’s business. Unaware of what to do and incapable of receiving assistance for locating the funds, George spun into a spiral of self-destruction that left his family in fear, left George’s freedom in question, and left George contemplating the idea of taking his own life.

Desperate and broken

Clarence

As George stood ready to jump from the bridge above the frigid waters of Bedford Falls River, I found myself questioning his route out of his unfortunate circumstances. Then, in a plot twist akin to the heart of A Christmas Carol the story introduced an angel, Clarence, who interrupted George’s plans and placed him into an alternate reality where he never existed. Upon facing the changed world wherein George’s previous employer was a homeless ex-convict, his brother had died, and his wife led a lonely, unfulfilling life, he realized the importance of his place in the world. In one uplifting shift of emotion, It’s a Wonderful Life encapsulated the idea of recognizing and being grateful for the blessings we are given in our lives, and to realize how who we are as people intertwine with those that mean the most to us.

Facing an alternate reality...

...Where a brother was lost

As George came back to the reality he previously knew at the blessing of his guardian angel, this perspective overwhelmed him and set the course for the remainder of the film. I watched as George turned back toward his home and ran through town celebrating everything he had taken for granted before his angel rescued him from himself. Overjoyed, George outwardly expressed his gratitude for the people around him, for his family, and even for the undesirable circumstances he knew he would eventually have to face. Even when he arrived home to press and police waiting to question him over the controversy with the missing funds at his bank, George let his newfound perspective guide him. In the face of hopelessness, George reveled in his blessings, which was a stark reminder of our tendency to overlook the good in our life.

The generosity of all

Uncertain as to how the tale would end, I watched as George was reunited with his family. With love pouring out of him, George grabbed his wife and his children in an embrace, realizing it might be the last time he can do so for some time. The intersection of such joy and sadness gripped me in those final moments, until the friends, family, and citizens George had done right by throughout his life began pouring into his home with stacks of dollar bills. In reflection of all of George’s good deeds, the people of Bedford Falls sacrificed a part of their income to lift George out his financial troubles after catching wind of the dilemma from George’s wife. As the Christmas holiday closed in, George was spared from his legal troubles and was granted the gift of a new life full of gratitude, happiness, and love. Thanks to Clarence, George found peace and good in his life, which was a message that was not lost on me.

A man saved

As the credits of It’s a Wonderful Life began to roll, I found myself taking a few minutes to take in the film’s broader meaning. It was easy to see why it was viewed as one of the best films in history, and easier still to see how it had become so closely associated with the Christmas holiday. After watching the film for the first time, I know it is likely I will revisit It’s a Wonderful Life again in the future. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself watching a broadcast of the movie this time next year. During a season when we should be mindful of all the good things in our lives, It’s a Wonderful Life provides a message that speaks directly to that perspective. That’s something I know I should be more mindful of, and if it takes a good story about a man begin saved from himself to do that, I’ll gladly sacrifice a few hours of my time for a little perspective.

Day 226 - Paying for Someone Behind Me in Line

I have never paid for someone behind me in line. When I would periodically hear about these “random act of kindness” they would always catch my interest given the altruistic and touching nature of the stories that came with them; however, I never took it upon myself to engage in the gesture of good will myself. Acknowledging the blessings I have received in my life afford me the opportunity to help a stranger with such an act, I decided early in my “I have never...” journey I would make paying for someone behind me a part of my year of new experiences. Of course, that meant I wanted to have a lasting experience that went beyond simply paying for someone’s drive-thru order or cup of coffee. As a result, I decided my first experience paying for someone behind me in line would have to be tied to something more than a passing event on a day like any other.

As I contemplated about the best way to follow through on my desire to pay for someone behind me in line, my thoughts eventually began moving toward the spirit of giving that is frequently associated with Christmas holiday but often forgotten in the individual actions of many around the season. That disassociation ultimately caused me to settle on the idea of following through on my plan to pay for someone behind me in line on Christmas Eve; a day that I felt should embody spirit of giving more than any other. With intentions to make the most of the experience, I decided on that day I would go to local Wal-Mart in an effort to find a person or family that appeared in need and pay for their last minute Christmas gifts as a gesture of kindness. In that decision, I recognized it would likely be an experience I would remember for some time, but I never expected it to be an event that would move me to my core.

The beginning...

With Christmas Eve upon us, I made good on my plans and headed to a local Wal-Mart store today. As I anticipated, the store was bustling with the activity of last minute shoppers seeking gifts for friends and family before the onset of the Christmas holiday. As I walked into the store, I promptly decided I would take my time in scoping out shoppers as they moved through the aisles, hoping I could locate a person or family that I could help by paying for their items at the checkout line. At first, my effort proved challenging given the surprising number of people that were picking up personal care products, food, and other goods that seemed somewhat unrelated to the pending holiday. As a result, I decided I would work my way back to the toys section of the store where I thought it would be more likely to find someone that fit the profile of someone shopping for Christmas gifts. To my luck, the approach ended up working perfectly.

Almost immediately after I entered the toy section of the store, my eyes fell upon the sight of a woman looking longingly at a display of toys in the center of the aisle. For some time she glanced back and forth from the price tag displayed in front of the toys to the few toys and DVD movies she had already placed in her cart. Doing my best to make myself appear busy, I watched as she stood still before the display before taking a deep breath as a look of disappointment crossed her face. Slightly hanging her head, the woman moved away from the display of toys and started walking her shopping cart further down the aisle.

The woman’s actions were enough to let me know I had found the person I wanted to help by paying for her items. In turn, I casually worked my way to the front of the store, grabbed a bottle of cola as a reason for standing in line, and took up a post near the registers. There I waited for several minutes until I saw the woman I had observed earlier slowly making her way toward the registers. As she approached, I hurriedly moved into action, doing my best not to make it obvious I was trying to cut in front of her in line. As I paced myself near the front of her cart, I waited for some sign she was turning into a register, which came with the slight turn of her cart. In response, I promptly turned with her, establishing the position I needed to make good on my intended “I have never...” event for the day.

Keya and I

A few seconds after we settled into our places in line, I turned to the woman and greeted her with a smile. Without hesitation I announced my intent to pay for her goods. “Hello. If it’s ok with you I would like to pay for your things,” I said bluntly. The woman gave me a confused look and responded in a soft voice that carried hints of an unfamiliar accent. “I’m not sure I’m understanding,” she said looking back to the items she had begun placing on the register belt. Realizing I may have been too forward with my original remarks, I rephrased my statement. “I’m sorry, as a gift to you I would like to pay for your items.” The woman took a step back as her face moved from confusion to shock. “You want to do what?” Smiling, I reiterated my intentions, “As a gift to you I would like to pay for your goods. You get to take them home and keep them. I would just like to pay for them on your behalf. Is that ok?”

Reacting to my offer, the woman took three steps back and raised her hand to her heart as she slowly nodded her head. With that, the cashier shot me a subdued smile and began scanning the woman’s items. As the register beeped with each passing item, the woman looked on with her mouth slightly agape in disbelief. Still holding her hand to her heart, she stood silent as the last of her items crossed the register and were placed into shopping bags. As if the transaction was anything but atypical, the cashier then announced the total, which cued me to pull my credit card from my wallet and swipe at the nearby card processing terminal.

A momento from the experience

Putting the card back into my wallet, I turned to the woman who had shifted her attention to my action at the card processing terminal. She slowly lifted her eyes to meet mine and spoke briefly. “I don’t know what to say...” she said, holding the position she had taken at the beginning of the transaction. “You don’t have to say anything,” I said, “Merry Christmas.” Taking the bags from the end of the register, I turned back to the woman who slowly outstretched her hands to receive the bags. In that moment the reality of the event struck her, causing a look of happiness to light up her face. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears started softly streaming down her face as she grabbed the bags from my hands. “I don’t know... Thank you,” she said quietly as she placed the bags in her cart and turned back toward me. Then, in a moment of candid expression she opened her arms and embraced me in a hug. Wrapping my arms around her in kind, I leaned in and said softly, “You’re welcome. I hope you have a great holiday.”

With that, the two of us grabbed our receipts and began to head for the doors. The woman was quick to tell me the items in her bags were gifts for her children and that my actions would help make her holiday a little brighter. I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder before asking her for her name. “Keya,” she said smiling, “My name is Keya.” In response, I stopped my feet and turned to her, “Well, Keya, it is nice to meet you. I’m happy I could help make your Christmas a little better.” Keya wiped her eyes once more as she looked back at me. “You have no idea...” she said looking back at the bags of gifts, “This means so much.”

In that moment, a feeling of clarity and peace unlike any I have experienced in my life filled my heart. My taking the time to show someone a simple gesture of kindness had changed the course of Keya’s day and her holiday, which was more than I expected. After posing for a quick picture with Keya, I walked toward the exit of the Wal-Mart feeling more fulfilled than I had in some time. The immediate impact of my actions resonated through me and struck so deeply that I found myself fending off tears of my own as I climbed into my car and prepared to leave for home. An experience that lasted no more than a few minutes left me reeling and made my belief that my “I have never...” year is making me a better person seem much more real. I gained so much perspective from this experience it is hard to fully describe, which leads me to believe the gift I received today is far greater than anything my $57.37 could have purchased. Throughout my life I have heard the phrase, “You get what you give." Today, those words were proven true in my mind.

Day 225 - Getting a Barbershop Shave

I have never had a barbershop shave. Now, when I say a barbershop shave, I’m referring to the full experience. Although it is equally true I have never paid anyone to shave my face before, I have always wanted to gain the experience of the full out, reclined-in-a-barber-chair, pre-shave-treatment, hot-towel-wrap, straight-razor shave that I grew up seeing in movies and on television. As a result, I decided as a part of my “I have never...” year I would find a barbershop that provided an authentic barbershop shave and treat myself to the experience. Ultimately, this plan resulted in me pinpointing the day before the start of Christmas celebrations as the perfect time to get dapper with some help from a professional barber. Although finding a way to make this work took a little research and effort, I eventually found a way to make that objective possible with some last minute changes in my schedule. As a result, I headed to local barbershop, Cha Cha Beauty and Barber, today to follow through on an experience I had looked forward to since I first became capable of growing a beard.

Cha Cha!

When I arrived at Cha Cha I was greeted by a variety of friendly staff members that were hard at work helping a near constant flow of customers working their way through a number of services offered by the business. Having arrived early, I checked in at the barbershop’s small reception counter and took a seat in the waiting area positioned at the heart of the building. With a flurry of activity occurring around me, I took in the sights, sounds, and conversations of those being helped by the Cha Cha staff. The cozy feeling of the building, coupled with the highly interactive and outwardly happy staff made it apparent the business valued customer relationships as much as they valued quality workmanship with a pair of sheers. Considering I was about to put my full trust in a stranger with a straight razor, that fact put me at ease as I waited for my barbershop shave to begin.

The shop

Eventually, my moment to take the barber chair arrived when the desk manager, Randi, called my name and introduced me to the barber that would be responsible for my first ever barbershop shave. Promptly introducing himself as Rick, the barber guided me to a barber chair donned in red leather, chrome, and a variety of flame decals. As I took a seat in the chair Rick was quick to give me a primer on the first steps in the process, which resulted in me leaning back into a reclined position, raising resting my feet on a plank at the base of the fixture, and working my head into a comfortable position. Making it apparent his focus was on providing me a good experience, Rick confirmed I had found a comfortable position before he set to work on my week old beard.

Ready? ...Ready

After taking time to trim my scruff down to stubble, Rick immediately began priming my face with a variety of oils and pre-shave treatments that left my skin feeling fresh and cool. The feeling spurred me to ask a few questions about the materials in use, which Rick happily answered with detailed statements about the liquids and their purpose in the process. Designed to open the pores of the skin and pull the facial hair to an upright position, Rick explained the various treatments contained soothing oils to lubricate the skin and menthol to direct the hair in a way that made it easier for him to gain a close shave. The information was more than I expected, and the confidence with which Rick spoke made it clear he had some experience in the field. In turn, I asked Rick about his experience as a barber, to which he replied with a hint of enthusiasm, “I’ve been at it six years now, and it’s still good.” The remark made it clear Rick was experienced with a straight blade and passionate about his work, which was all I needed to hear to know I was in good hands.

The rubdown

Following my initial skin treatment, Rick worked through a series of actions that went far beyond what I expected the process would entail. At first, Rick wrapped my face with a hot towel, which he let sit for some time. Upon removing the towel, he then lathered my face with a thick shaving cream and wrapped my face in a hot towel once more. After letting the second towel sit for roughly the same period, Rick returned, lathered up my face once more, and checked his work. My eyes followed him as he looked over my cream covered jawline, which resulted in me catching a brief look of satisfaction on Rick’s face. On cue he moved to his work station and turned back to me with a straight razor in hand. With that it became clear it was time for my shave to begin.

Lathering up

A bit nervous at first, I was careful to keep my head steady as Rick drew near and began moving the razor across my face. After the first few strokes of his blade, Rick’s deliberate and meticulous movements made me realize he was a man of precision, which eased my mind and helped me let go of what concern remained as he crossed from one side of my face to the other. In a strange turn of events, that shift in perspective actually caused me to slip into an unexpected state of calm as Rick worked. Despite the fact I had a person holding a straight blade to my neck, I was relaxed and able to unwind, which was an amazing feeling considering the Christmas holiday is only a day away. With that turn of emotion it became obvious that getting a straight razor shave is about much more than simply getting a clean look. The whole process is about taking time for oneself and for breaking up the ordinary with relaxing, gratifying experience that has the added benefit of helping a man get a clean look. With that in mind, I quickly determined getting a straight razor shave is something I can get into.

Mid-shave

When Rick finished his first pass over my face, I was surprised to find that he promptly lathered up my face and wrapped it in a hot towel once more. Caught off guard by his actions, I asked him if his intention was to take a second pass over my face, which he confirmed was necessary as the final “clean up” phase of the shave. Happy to sit through another round of the soothing experience, I folded my hands and repositioned my head as Rick leaned near my face once more. Careful not to induce any sort of irritation on my face, Rick worked over my skin with slow, targeted movements that removed what little remnants of hair remained on parts of my face. Once finished, he leaned back, gave my face one more look, and promptly wrapped my head in a cool towel.

A few minutes later, he pulled the towel off and gave me one last look. “Alright, that’s it! Your are good to go!” he said as he raised me to an upright position. Snapping myself from my state of relaxation I looked over to Randi who was waiting at the ready to take my photo. Needless to say, it was easy to crack a smile as she directed. I was in a good place, and all in all, I looked pretty damn good; well as good as good get for me, anyway.

So good...

As I left Cha Cha I reflected on my first experience with a barbershop shave, recounting the surprising aspects of the experience in my mind. Dominated by a feeling I can only assume is comparable to what people feel after a “spa day,” I closed my eyes for a brief moment as I climbed into my car. Although the effect of the shave was still strange to me, I felt great, and that’s all I needed to know today’s “I have never...” experience was one worth having. While I will be the first to admit the shave wasn’t necessarily the closest I have ever had, it was by far the cleanest and most comfortable shave of my life. Rick didn’t leave a nick on my skin and lines on my sideburns were straight as arrows. The man is clearly a professional, and thanks to him I had one of the most relaxing experiences in my “I have never...” journey to date. That certainly came as a surprise to me, yet it was the best kind of surprise I could have hoped for. I can now say I have experienced a straight razor shave, but something tells me it won’t be the last time that happens. 

Day 224 - Going to the Ballet

I have never been to the ballet. In an effort to broaden my horizons with the arts during the course of my “I have never...” year, I made a promise to myself I would attend the major forms of performance I had previously never taken time to experience firsthand. Following my recent trips to the symphony and the opera, that left only ballet on my “I have never...” list, which set me to work finding a performance that I thought suitable for my first ever ballet performance. With the holiday season fast approaching, my search quickly narrowed in on Madison Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker, a ballet with a storied reputation known around the world. Realizing a performance of such a classic work was likely the best way to introduce myself to the ballet, I found a day that would permit Rachael and me to attend a performance and bought a pair of tickets. With plans made to make good on my goal of experiencing the ballet for the first time, all that was left to do was to wait for the day of the performance to arrive.

Snowy day...

Unfortunately, the day of the performance greeted us with a half of a foot of fresh snowfall from the latest winter storm to bear down on Wisconsin. Although I was a bit concerned the ballet performance scheduled for today would be canceled as a result of the elements, a sudden shift in the weather this morning meant the performance would go on as scheduled. Early in the day the storm broke rapidly and revealed a beautiful, sunny sky that made moving the snow relatively easy. Although conditions were not ideal, the transition in the weather made streets and sidewalks around town easily navigable by the time Rachael and I had to leave to make it to The Nutcracker on time. As a result, we prepared ourselves for an afternoon at the theatre, and headed downtown to the Overture Center for what would undoubtedly be an experience to remember.

Finding our seats

Starting the show

Upon arriving at the theatre, Rachael and I were quick to find our seats knowing it was likely there was only a brief period between our arrival and the start of the performance. Within minutes of us taking our place among the rows of theatre chairs, the lights fell and The Nutcracker began. With a slow rise of the symphony coming together around the ballet’s overture, I leaned forward and prepared for the experience. Then, amid a bouquet of stage lights dancers began to take the stage in a scene from a city street from long ago. Silent in their movements, the dancers played out interactions between passing individuals and flawlessly transitioned into a new backdrop of a refined, massive home bustling with the activities of Christmas party clearly bearing special significance for those in attendance. I watched as characters began to develop through movement and dance, which was strange at first but quickly became familiar as the performance pressed on. The story beginning to unfold, I found myself bound to the actions on stage, doing my best to take in the whole of each scene as to not miss any part of the tale.

The opening scene

Entering a dream

NUTCRACKER.

The battle with the Rat King

With plot of The Nutcracker coming into full view,  I stayed fixed on the stage as the story entered into a dream state brought on by a nutcracker toy that had been gifted during the earlier Christmas celebration. Against some of the most vibrant and enchanting backdrops I have ever experienced in a live performance, the dancers took the stage and completed demanding and highly complex movements with such astounding grace it was almost impossible to believe. From seemingly endless pirouettes to various combinations of lifts and bends, the performers built the story of The Nutcracker solely with movement in a way that was completely unexpected. In all its beauty, the ballet had pulled me in, leaving me speechless as I watched the performance from my orchestra seat.

Snowflakes? Yes, I think they are snowflakes

Oddly charming

Nearing the end

Given the experience, I decided before the performance had ended that my blog entry for this experience would likely be short on words. The reality is the ballet is something that must be witnessed firsthand to truly understand how it can move a person. I never expected that to be something I would gain from this experience, but seeing the Madison Ballet dancers this evening made it impossible to come to any other conclusion. With only the music guiding them, the performers put together a story without words, without song, and without symbols. It was only their movement that told the tale, and they did it in a way that will make it stick with me for some time.

Leaving the dream

Taking a bow

My first experience with the ballet was something that surprised me in many ways. I don’t think I could have anticipated feeling enlightened from sitting through a performance of The Nutcracker, but this afternoon’s performance reminded me of the amazingly beautiful things human being are capable of doing with time and commitment. Needless to say, today helped me find a newfound respect for those people that devote their life to ballet, which, in my opinion, is the exact point where art meets athletics in our world. Stated simply, today was a beautiful experience, and I have the Madison Ballet and the Madison Symphony Orchestra to thank for that. While I’m not sure when I will find my way to the ballet in the future, I’m sure my first experience won’t be my last. I would be a fool not to experience such a beautiful thing again.

Day 223 - Attending a Winter Solstice Celebration

I have never been to a winter solstice celebration. During a time of year when the days are short and the air is usually drenched in bitter cold, the idea of spending time outdoors with a group of people to celebrate the passing of the shortest day of the year hasn’t had much appeal to me. While I will be the first to admit I’m always been happy at the coming of longer days this time of year, the solstice has never been an event that I acknowledged in any formal way. In fact, I was happy to see it come and pass like any other day leading up to the holidays, which meant I had no intention of standing out in the cold to celebrate the day’s coming and going. Warmth and comfort among the quiet of the shortest day was fine with me, and I had no intention of changing that perspective.

Of course, in a year of new experiences I have been pressed to move outside of my routines in many ways, and the coming of the winter solstice this year was no exception to that pattern. Over a month ago Rachael made me aware of a winter solstice bonfire held each year in Madison, which piqued my curiosity enough to beginning investigating the annual event. After a little research, I discovered a full winter solstice celebration was held each year at Olbrich Park, a location nestled on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison. With food, drink, and various events included in the event, I realized the experience would likely be worth facing the cold to welcome the first official days of winter. As a result, I set aside time in my calendar to attend my first winter solstice celebration this afternoon, even if it brought with it a little bit of a chill.

After throwing on several layers and some sturdy boots this afternoon, Rachael and I drove to nearby Olbrich Park just before the celebration began at sunset. When we arrived a crowd of over 100 people stood in the shin-deep snow around a circle of ice sculptures ringing a massive pile of pine trees. The group milled about the space of the park sipping on hot cocoa and nibbling at chili between conversations with those around them. Despite the cold, the group was cheery and excited, which made it easy to get comfortable as we acquainted ourselves with the surroundings. A few minutes after arriving, Rachael and I had a cup of hot cocoa in hand and had found a position near the inner circle of the gathering crowd of people. Doing our best to keep warm, we nestled up to one another and chatted about to goings-on around us until night fell and the event staff moved to light the solstice bonfire.

COCOA.

In a broad sweeping movement around the pile of pine trees a small group of people led two men to the back of the pile of Christmas trees in preparation for the bonfire. Before the pile was lit, a woman donned in a variety of scarves and bells danced and a man carrying an oversized effigy of a man walked near the crowd as a small group of people sang a solstice themed song built around the tradition. Once finished, the group moved into the crowd to let the two men follow through with the lighting of the bonfire. Slowly, the two men spurred a flame into a building ball of fire at the end of a stick, which was then placed into the side of the stacked pine trees. In a matter of moments the mound of wood erupted into billowing flames that quickly consumed the mass of dried pine boughs.

The fire at its peak

With fire reaching high into the sky the crowd around us gathered closer to the fire to pull from its abundant warmth. Smiles and laughter were commonplace as the crowd gathered, acknowledging the fire was a symbol of the coming and going of the long, dark days of winter. Amid the coming cold of the night, the group was happy to take in the beauty of the fire and to spend time enjoying the winter as it burned its way toward a pile of embers. It was clear by the happenings around us the celebration was on, and everyone in attendance was happy to be a part of it.

The solstice crowd

After the bulk of the pine burned to a more moderately sized bonfire, members of the crowd began to disperse to a variety of different activities occurring on the outside of the ring of people huddled around the fire. A small group of people prepared paper lanterns for flight over Monona, and two members of the crowd began fire dancing with torches tied to the ends of chains. The added features of the celebration boosted the jovial spirits of the already festive crowd and offered yet more interesting ways to recognize the passage of the solstice. Intrigued by the activity around us, Rachael and I took time to wander around the outside of the central gathering point around the fire and take in these more unique aspects of the event.

Letting the lantern fly

As we moved to the open area of the snow covered park, my eyes remained fixed on the glowing balls of light emanating from the small group of people preparing a paper lantern for flight. As the group let it loose, Rachael and I watched briefly as the lantern carried into the hazy winter sky, which prompted us to turn our attention to the nearby fire dancers. Mesmerizing in their actions, the pair of dancers swung their flame-tipped chains in arcing patterns against the backdrop of dormant trees and a sled track laden snow hill. For minutes Rachael and I stood by, following the flames as they moved. The moment was simultaneously exciting and beautiful, which forced smiles onto our faces as Rachael and I stood ankle deep in the previously untouched powder that had fallen on the park some days earlier.

Fire dancers...

...Painting the night sky

When the first of the fire dancing displays came to an end, Rachael and I moved back toward the fire to warm ourselves. With the fire quickly dwindling to a small pile of embers and flame, I turned my attention to the crowd around us. Although I could feel the cold beginning to set in, the sight of the people and the ongoing activities in the park made me happy I had taken time to experience the winter solstice festival. The joy and sense of togetherness that came with the event made it clear my previous perspective on hunkering down indoors and treating the day as a passing occurrence would have left me without a memorable winter event spent with some terrific people. While I’m sure Rachael and I would have been happy enough to avoid cold hands and feet, the solstice bonfire and the experiences that came with it made every cold digit worth it.

Today’s experience was an obvious reminder of why I originally decided to embark on my “I have never...” journey. By challenging my tendency to prefer the warmth and comfort of home in the early days of winter, I was able to experience an event that stands out among Madison’s holiday traditions. Where I would have otherwise been cringing at the thought of the first day of winter, I found myself among a crowd of people joyful, buoyant people celebrating the coming of longer days. That concept says a lot about the benefit of taking on another new experience today, and it just might serve as a suitable metaphor for the change I have experienced since this journey began. One thing is for sure, seven months into this year it is clear I am not the person I once was, and days like today remind me of how that shift is making me a better person.