Today, Christmas Eve, o Noite de Natal, was a beautiful, sunny day in Porto. I took out my french horn and shared some holiday joy with the joggers, surfers, and other beach-goers in the shadow of the sculpture “Anemona” (She Changes). Thoughts of adapting to change and the tides — and yes, saudade, for what I have left behind — all resonate strongly with me right now. This year has brought me sorrow and anger, and also joy and hope.
Playing Christmas music into the brutalist concrete canyon of Matosinhos reminded me of so many Christmas gigs of times past. I played for commuters, diners sitting across the street at a café, and harried residents picking up a bolo-rei or other Christmas pastries from my favorite neighborhood confeiteria. A woman opened her window and applauded after each tune. Throughout my life, music has always been an anchor for me, offering me a return to what feels like familiar, universal melodies and rhythms. Some things change; others remain constant.
I am so delighted to have found a new, welcoming home in Porto, and look forward to continuing to find community, exploring all that Portugal and its people have to offer, and embarking on my next steps in life.
Merry Christmas! Feliz Natal e Boas Festas!