For 10 years or so, our family has spent an hour or two each Christmas at our local hospital, three miles from our home.  This year, we were in Washington DC for Christmas with Operation Silent Night (see prior blog) so we rescheduled our hospital visit for New Years Day.

  Although my wife, Sue, stayed back home this year, all three of my daughters went to the hospital along with Rose's friend Corban.   We went room to room doing five to ten minutes of juggling and illusions.  Each girl participated in one way or another.  Jo did a juggling passing routine with me, Naomi juggled machetes, Rose did a couple of illusions, and even Corban learned an illusion that day to share with the patients.  Jo wrapped up each visit by making a balloon animal for the patients before we moved on.

 Bridgton Hospital is beautiful.  Every room is a single occupancy with large windows and space for family members to stay over night.  Several years ago, Maine author Stephen King was hit by a car while riding a bike in Bridgton.  He was so appreciative for the care he received while in  our old hospital, he paid most, if not all, of the cost for our new one.   Being a holiday, there were not many patients there.  I think we did five or six 'shows'.  The people all seemed to enjoy the diversion, and medical staff people watched from the doorways.

The highlight of the visit this year, though, was when we first arrived.  A nurse who had been there last Christmas told us this story:

"Last year there was a woman who woke up very sad on Christmas morning.  She was depressed that she had to be there on Christmas day.  After our visit, the lady told me that it really brightened her day, and it was a very good Christmas after all."

And that story made my New Year's Day 2014.