I walked into the foyer at 3500 West Adams Boulevard: Prana, the Home of the Traveler, also known as Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens. There’s something about the mansion we’ve called our spiritual family’s home for over 30 years, something that just calls out for the lush decor of the holiday season. I came to see the Children’s Christmas Workshop and participate in the Tree Trimming Party.
Kevin McMillan and Juan Roberto Schultz were putting up the Big Tree, which appeared to be naked except for a golden spire on the top. Then Juan Roberto pushed a button, and “Voila!!” a zillion teeny lights came on, and the tree lit up like…well…Christmas. There were busy elves everywhere, setting out poinsettias, putting ornaments on the lush green garlands, and singing along to the strains of Aaron Neville’s “Silent Night.” Carol Jones and her elves (i.e., an all-volunteer army) dressed the house sumptuously, placing wreaths at every window, and on the fireplace. Every surface shone with loving and caring.
In the dining room, the children were all over, everywhere, their eyes full of wonder and promise, and their hands full of the frosting they were using to construct individual gingerbread houses. David Sand and Carole Austin were taking Polaroid photos of the kids, which were glued into red felt ornaments and hung on The Little Tree (not so tall and intimidating, but just as fragrant). The kids also wrote letters to Santa, and made reindeer crowns and snowflakes out of paper. Santa’s helpers and elves were deeply involved, assisting, creating, and wiping away tears and smudges.
After delicious snacks of fruit and chicken in strips and skewers (and quite a few gumdrops from the houses), we moved back to the foyer and joined together to call in the Light, and to trim the Big Tree with a few hundred glass ornaments. Up and down the ladders, in and under and around.
Then Kevin McMillan and Tamsin Rothschild took the stage, and we were royally entertained with song, dance, and a Nativity pageant like no other ever was! Lord, how we laughed, and how we loved it. There were surprises, and there was so much of the family beauty. John Morton closed the evening by reading a few of the letters to Santa, and — wonderment! — Santa and Mrs. Claus appeared, “Ho-ho-ho”-ing down the curved staircase to join us, and to wish us all a “Very Merry Christmas.” If there’s no other sign of the Spirit of Christmas, it’s well and alive here at Prana.
