It was my 10^th year in a row, and I couldn’t miss this one!  The Con-solatio benefit concert is always a festive occasion of pure joy.

I arrived in the afternoon to help with final preparations.  Nati is ironing the white tablecloths.  Music from around the world is playing over the speaker.  There is a peace.  Melanie and Maria are busy bees in the kitchen, preparing charcuterie boards with beauty and love in every delicious detail.  I jump into slicing cucumbers and baguettes.  Mela and I wrap ivy and curly willow vines around the table linens. 

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy right food and pure, choice wines.” ~ Isaiah 25:6

Guests start arriving and filling the beautiful open room at The Green Building with the buzz of greetings and anticipation.  We fill our plates with brie, prosciutto, and olives, as our hearts are cheered by friendship and good wine.

The tri-generation family of Hungarian musicians begins to play for us.  A young lady sings with raw tones of stunning beauty as a lad uses a milk jug for riveting percussion.  He comes off the stage to dance with stomps and claps, kicks and taps.  Hearts lift in the joy of this gypsy verve!  The room is bubbling over with the fresh vivacity of this genuine offering.  Hearts unite in this present beauty, deeply steeped.

A standing ovation! 

Delighted, we stroll out to the courtyard on a perfect Brooklyn evening.  Two men at a wood-fire oven are pulling out hot Neapolitan pizzas and we all enjoy with gladness.  The musicians favor us with an impromptu encore outside, mother and son partner dancing with sweet tenderness.  As the night sky darkens, we savor Italian cookies and gelato.  There is much laughter and togetherness. 

What remains with me is joy.  Beauty, the surprise of fresh life, smiles and laughter that can’t be helped.  It is family.  A feast of consolation.