It’s a couple of days before Christmas, and I’m looking at the newspaper; there is an article about the Portland Grotto. The Grotto is inviting all faiths for a Christmas celebration; over half a million Christmas lights throughout the grounds can be seen. The Grotto is a beautiful Catholic Monastery with winding paths throughout the grounds in a wooded setting.

Credit: Will Glessner

   When I was a kid I enjoyed riding the elevator up to the top of the property. Its view overlooked the grounds, once on top, there were more trails and paths leading to and around old chapels. In some of these old small chapels there were old beautiful paintings. These paintings were the first real paintings that I had ever seen; paintings that were done by the masters of their time with rich, bold colors that you saw coming through each brush stroke. Sure, I had seen drawings at school or in books of great paintings but until you’re standing in front of one you can‘t really appreciate their beauty.
I wonder if the paintings are still there, and if they are, are they the same as I remember; I was only 11 or 12 at the time.
Anyway, I just wanted to say to all…Merry Christmas!!

Grandpa Tom