2004 Caroling mob Report

1/1/2005

Carol Mob 0.5, led by Andrea Condit, Friday, Dec. 17 2004

Andrea talked to me at the JP social club meeting about adding this auxiliary JP date to the itinerary, for those out of town on, or wanting more caroling action than just, the 22nd. It was small (8-10 of us?) but fun! A highlight for me was breaking in on a Domino game to carol some folks, and having one of them completely outcarol us with "Noche de Paz" in a powerful baritone. Ha ha ha! Then we sang at a bar and got free hot cocoa and cookies, that was nice. A guy in the bar had us sing to his daughter's voice mail. That was sweet too.

Carol Mob 1.0, Saturday, Dec. 18, Back Bay

We had 30-40 people in this mob. Memorable Moments:

The Three Scrooges Routine or, How they Kicked Us Out of the Copley Mall

Our first stop, after warming up in Back Bay Station, was to go to the mall across the street. We sang Joy To the World in the first space we came to, and then realized that there was a brass quintet playing in the middle space of the mall (this is a very upscale mall, complete with marble floors, a waterfall, etc.) We went to the middle and asked them if it was ok if we sang another tune- they said, sure!- so we sang Longfellow's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (which was only subtly subversive, I thought).
We finish. Security guard 1: Are you the leader?
me: Maybe. Why?
SG1: Could I see some ID?
me: We were just leaving. (pats shoulder. Probably a bad move)
SG1: don't touch me.
Me: Sorry.
2 seconds pass:
Security Guard 2: Are you the leader?
me: Maybe. Why?
SG1: Could I see some ID?
me: We were just leaving. We've already been asked to leave. (note that this time I do not pat his shoulder)
SG2: OK.
2 seconds pass. We are almost at the downward escalator.
Security Manager-type woman: Are you the leader?
me: maybe. Why?
We step onto the down escalator.
SMTW: Would you come downstairs with me?
me: Um. Ok. (we're already going downstairs)
SMTW: Could I see some ID?
me: May I ask Why you want to see my ID?
...and so on. I didn't give anyone my ID. I found out later that there are elements of the world who have gone into that very mall to sing anti-corperate christmas carols, which might explain the rather hostile reception. Crazy. Well. People.
b) Highlight for me (it was so beautiful): humming Silent Night in the BPL. The security guard THERE smiled and waved. Heh heh. Sorry to all my librarian friends, but well, we did only hum.

Carol Mob 3.0, Weds., Dec 22, in JP
We left Green street station with 62 people! ha ha! And, I left my jacket in the station, and a guy on a bicycle caught up to us 15 minutes later and brought them to me! Aw! And, well, we really sounded especially good on Joy to the World, Dona Nobis Pacem... It was a great time. One person wrote this:

"My best memory (Joe, make note for JP neighbors!) is of standing at the corner of Chestnut and Boylston, singing to one lonely lighted floor in one house set back from the road, thinking we were on our last legs. Did we even know if anyone was in there to hear us? And by the end of the first song there were people at the windows of at least 8 buildings along the two streets, sharing in the mysterious joyful noisemaking taking place in the down below. What a great way to spread holiday cheer and true spirit! "

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2004 Caroling mob Report

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