As is our custom, entries will be light or nonexistent today, as we celebrate the nativity of the Lord with our family (we celebrate Christmas without apology and with great joy in our household).
And, per our usual custom, our traditional Christmas picture: a Flemish painting by an unknown artist, c. 1515, "Adoration of the Christ Child," which is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Several years ago, psychiatrist Andrew Levitas and geneticist Cheryl Reid determined that the angel closest to Mary, and possibly one of the shepherds in the back, bore the distinctive facial evidence of Down Syndrome. They conjectured that the artist used models with Down Syndrome fully three centuries before the condition was identified by Dr. Langdon Down. And the artist didn't call attention to it -- in fact, they're representing beings (shepherds and angels) who are meant to be there. Imperfect and somewhat damaged, as we all are, but also welcomed to the Nativity. As our family has cherished members with Down Syndrome, this has particular appeal to our heart. Everyone is invited to this party!
Celebrate the day! Merry Christmas to you!
