One of the most beautiful Christmas carols and a personal favorite- “Silent Night,” was written for guitar in Germany in the nineteenth century when the church organ was not working properly.  It is difficult to imagine in this era what daily sounds most people heard there in Germany and here in Massachusetts on a typical day.  Most people lived on farms. A typical day of sounds might have been the sound of horses, chickens, cows, perhaps  the sound of a baby crying. some children playing,  people talking , a dog barking.   If we compare that with today, one quickly realizes we are bombarded with noise from so  many sources- planes, trains, backhoes and  piped music in elevators and every store, all kinds of machinery,  cars, trucks, buses, chain saws, televisions, radios,  telephones, dishwashers,  blenders, mixers.  And when the sound of any of these becomes too much to bear, most of us just turn up the music louder or talk  louder to drown out sounds we don’t want to hear!  

The next verse of “Silent Night,” reads “All is calm, all is bright.”  One has to pause to think just how bright it must have been in a small German town on Christmas Eve. Before the electric light, the streets were dark save a candle near a window.   In this century of lighted roadways, we have forgotten how well we can see even at night.   It is true that as we age oncoming car lights can almost blind at times and eyes do not seem to adjust as quickly as when we were young. Yet the same bright lights that help us to see also prevent us from seeing at night.  It can take 15- 20 minutes for the eyes to fully adjust to the darkness allowing one to slowly increase visual clarity as the minutes pass. The important thing is to avoid looking at electric lights.  The minute you look at a bright light the pupils contract and the process of seeing clearly begins all over again taking another fifteen minutes to adjust.  If we are lucky and the snow falls this winter on a full or almost full moon I will take a walk in the woods at night  to experience this forgotten visual ability. If I’m lucky an owl may call and another will answer.  Occasionally some coyotes may call to each other.  I will try to remember that depth perception can be distorted at night and try to step carefully.  I will remain still or walk very slowly at first until my eyes adjust and suddenly the woods will look almost like daylight especially with the snow.  And convey a beauty that is not possible during the day.  

Broadbrook Nature Center, 414 Massasoit Road, in Worcester sometimes offer evening owl walks.  I have been on one in the past.  I called and checked and none are scheduled this month. However, they advised to give them a call next month.  

The Woodsman also would like to make a recommendation to assist everyone walking around in the winter:  namely “Yaktrax”.  These are a device made of rubber with coils of steel around the rubber.  They stretch over the sole and heel of shoes and boots and provide an amazing amount of stability even on glare ice.  “Yaktrax” are  used by bob sledders in competition. As there are no sharp edges they do not hurt carpets or other floors. I have been using them for several years now even sauntering on frozen Dorothy Pond.  They can be removed easily pulling a tab at the heel.  These seem to be sold in a number of catalogs.  I know “Campmor” catalog (also on line- www.campmor.com )  has a fair price and ships quickly.  

The Old Woodsman wishes every one a wonderful Christmas, a happy  Hanukkah,  a joyful Kwanza and  peace and good will to all.