Is the Year Over yet??

Well- the countdown is on!!  Only a few more days and we can put 2010 to bed!!  In reflection I think it was a WONDERFUL year!!  Then again- any time I make it to the end of the year- I think it is a pretty good one!  I crossed a major item off my bucket list.  I went to the Passion Play in Oberammergau.  What a wonderful and uplifting experience.  I really am glad I went- it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.  For those of you not familiar with the history- this was the 42nd time it was performed.  When the plague was ravishing Europe (in the 1600's!!) a tiny village in Germany (Oberammergau) prayed to God to spare their village.  They promised to pay homage to him every decade if he did.  Well- you guessed it- the village was spared and every 10 years there is a performance of the Passion Play by the village.  And I DO mean the village- just about all the inhabitants participate in some way.  The play is about 8 hours long- and is in German (they do provide a translation however)- but seriously the time just flew by!!  My friend Jerry and I went to a Passion Play at North Heights Church in Minnesota last year that was wonderfully done-(about 3 hours long)- they had huge production numbers- with singing and angels flying through the air- quite impressive.  Well- he fell asleep (don't ask me how!!).  When I said I wanted to go to Germany to see the Passion Play- he very calmly said "Tell me again- what is the German Jesus going to do that is going to take 5 hours longer??"  I had to laugh.  But then he calls it "Ober- yammer- yammer" which also totally cracks me up (as does just about everything he does!)  Then he asked how I would understand it in German- I told him- "I know how the story ends- it will be fine!"  Anyway- he toured Austria with some friends when I went to the play!!
Just one of the many things I am thankful for in 2010- not to mention family (they still claim me!), friends and all the NEW friends I made on my tours this year.  I really enjoy every tour I do- and I hope if you haven't joined me on one yet- that you will in the New Year, I think you will enjoy it!  Hmmm...the New Year- that means it is time to make resolutions doesn't it?  I will have to think about that one- I will get back to you on that!!!