Once known as Tony's Foodland, a local grocery store now called The Umbrella Factory had it's annual Christmas party last night.  Our church's worship team, BAWT, played Christmas carols and I performed Supreme Court Jesters routines.  For the first 45 to 50 minutes, the band played and I did 'walk-around' juggling.  When the band took a break, I did a 25 minute set, and about 100 people came to the stage between the cooler of hams and the lobster tank to watch the show.  Obviously, I went with a Christmas theme, including a new routine to an instrumental version of "I Saw Three Ships".  This routine includes contact and toss juggling, kendama and an illusion.  I usually get nervous before doing a new routine, but this went very well.

After another set by BAWT, during which I did some more 'walk-around' juggling, including some with a teen juggler and former student, Lauren, I did another set for a considerably smaller audience.  One of the highlights of my evening was when a man of thirty-something approached me and told me thatt his dad would have loved my show.  His father, who died a year and a half ago, apparently loved magic shows and also had been a local Methodist minister.  Clearly, the show touched something deeply nostalgic in his son.

Another great part for me was juggling for Xavier, a one year old from our church who Rose often babysits.  It seems Xavier loves the rhythmic movement of juggling, and he is always fascinated when he sees me juggle.  At one point, since my props were all set up for the start of my next set, I picked up three onions and juggled those for him instead.  For quite a while after, he gestured and reached for the onions as his grandmother held him in the produce department..  He's a cute little guy, and he's stealing the hearts of our whole household!

Juggling in a grocery store is unconventional, but it has become a big part of our Christmas season in the last several years.