Merry Christmas

Today, Christmas Eve, is the day that Dominican families gather to celebrate the birth of Christ. In most Dominican homes there will be a lot of food, along with family and friends. Then later on tonight people will be hitting the clubs. Today is also the day to be very careful about driving, as there will be a lot of Brugal absorbed today.

The weather has been cloudy and rainy the last couple of days. I thought it would be the same today. But it has stopped raining and the sun is out shining brightly, though a few clouds are still lingering about.

Tonight the bars/clubs will open after midnight. Tonight is Chachita Rubio's birthday party at Cha. And also the re-opening of Eukliptus (special party tomorrow). I believe the curfew has been canceled this week. Every year since the curfew was implemented in 2006, it has been suspended for the week of Christmas/New Year's. Here's hoping it is.

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. If you don't celebrate Christmas, then I wish you Happy Holiday's. If you don't celebrate anything then I wish you Peace.

Merry Christmas

I pray everyone's holiday season is going well. My Christmas was very merry, though different. The weather was very strange, not bad, just strange. It didn't rain all day, but seemed to rain every several hours for about 15 minutes. Otherwise, the weather is beautiful and balmy.

Yesterday, the 24th of December, is the day that most Dominicans celebrate with dinner and family. I had several plates of Dominican food yesterday. Today, there was the great dinner @ Jeffrey's apartment in Gazcue. The food, as prepared by Jeffrey, Sylvester and Julius, was absolutely fabulous. Felt like Christmas at home, except it wasn't cold. Thanks for the invite (and the food!), Jeffrey.

Then, I was off to Byron & Richard's committment ceremony. Byron called for the ceremony to start @ 8pm, American (on-time) time. Unfortunately, the ceremony didn't start until 9:30pm. That was the only thing that was wrong with the ceremony (okay, there was a small hitch with the DJ, but ...).

The highlight of the ceremony was the minister, Len. Len's sermon was riveting and poignant. He talked about how he had been a minister for 35 years, and once he came out as gay, he had to leave the church. He then read the passage from the 23rd Psalm, and another about Ruth. Again, beautiful and poignant.

Felicidades Byron & Richard!!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa.