We sat in a circle, these 10 strangers and I, holding the drums the leader provided for us.

boom – boom – boom – boom

The beat started low and steady as we all found our rhythm, our hands getting used to the instrument, to the sound we hear, and to the sound we internalized.

boom – boom – boom – boom

The shy man, the elderly woman, the loving mom and her two kids, the married couple, the healer, the drum leader, and the soul searcher.  Each us were beating the the drums to the music we heard, and we eventually fell into a rhythm that echoed our heart beats.

boom – boom – boom – boom

Eyes closed and  heart open.  We played softly, we played loudly, we played played for each other, we played for ourselves.

boom – boom – boom – boom

 

 

 

I sat at the end of the table observing the 17 members of my immediate and extended family as they chatted with each other over Christmas dinner.

At one point during dinner I looked down towards the opposite end at the oldest family member, my 89 year old grandfather who we call Nonno.  He was holding his 2 year old great grandchild, Andrew, on his lap.  Andrew LOVES Nonno, 87 years separate them but they speak the same language.

This is the family he built with my Nonni all those decades ago when they first met and married.

Seperately they arrived from Italy, together had 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.  At Thanksgiving Nonno had commented to one of my cousins how amazing it was to know he build this family. (I don’t remember the exact conversation, but it was something along those lines.)

We lost Nonni in 2004,  I wish she had lived long enough to see her first great grandchild. On Christmas, I felt her there, it was such an overwhelming feeling of her presence.