A Few Of Our Favorite Things...
As we find ourselves solidly immersed in the Christmas Season, there are always THOSE things we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Like I mentioned yesterday about TRADITIONS...some things remain , while others are created to keep the ball rolling, as it were.
This time of year brings back SO many fond memories of so many things.
And I'm sure it does the same for you.
Now, when it comes to Christmas, we all have our favorite things...could be certain smells from the kitchen or fireplace (hopefully that never includes furniture or burnt food), special songs, movies, TV shows, and the like.
So I've compiled some of MY favorite things that just say CHRISTMAS.
When it comes to movies, there is WHITE CHRISTMAS (first movie in VISTAVISION...whatever that was...we had a B&W TV forever...LOL). Nothing like Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye to get the spirit moving.
Not to mention a young Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen are easy on the eyes as well. Irving Berlin wrote some damn fine songs to boot.
I really enjoy watching SCROOGE starring Alistair Sim (1951)...best damn Ebenezer I ever saw, but I will also watch the versions with George C. Scott & Patrick Stewart as well. Fortunately THIS year, I have a DVD (set) of the Alistair Sim version WITH a COLORIZED copy included...there 'ya go.
I mean there are enough versions of Dickens' classic here to satisfy anyone in the crowd.
I also like THE POLAR EXPRESS (fantastic animation and a fun story), CHRISTMAS VACATION (makes whatever problem I encounter like last year's ICE STORM seem trivial...and it's a hoot and a half), IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (they still shoulda beat up Old Man Potter), and yes, even DIE HARD (hey, it DOES take place during the Christmas season...ease up). Wifey watches ELF and A CHRISTMAS STORY.
I like them also, just not as much.
There are so many other movies out there, but the aforementioned ones are MUST SEE movies at this time of the rolling year.
As for TV shows/specials...this is a NO-BRAINER.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS....period. Gotta watch that. Hell, I grew UP watching it (first showing was back in 1965, sponsored by Coca-Cola).
GARFIELD'S CHRISTMAS...another "have to watch", even though it's curiously NEVER SHOWN any longer...(that's what a DVD is for, my friends, and I have this one too).
I was never really into FROSTY the Snowman...kinda creeped me out....guy made of snow that could be done in with a handy blowtorch.... Rudolph and the misfit toys thing...I can take it or leave it.
I honestly love the just released Disney PREP AND LANDING...another animation fun fest...It's on my SHORT list of yearly viewing.
And I do like the original cartoon GRINCH show. Jim Carrey's version is okay, and if nothing else is on, I'll watch it.
Shows that have a holiday "theme" to them are always good to watch...like SOUTH PARK, FAMILY GUY, or AMERICAN DAD.
Last night's BIG BANG THEORY was pretty good as well.
I have to admit to really missing all the really good "variety specials" we had growing up like DEAN MARTIN, BOB HOPE, ANDY WILLIAMS, and other such notable performers...they had some of the BEST holiday viewing...something for everyone.
Now, when it comes to CHRISTMAS MUSIC...'ya just GOTTA have some NAT KING COLE.
THE CHRISTMAS SONG (and album) does Christmas in such a marvelously smooth manner, you feel like a kid again.
I also love the way NEIL DIAMOND does Christmas songs...
For the "fun" aspect of holiday music...it's the JINGLE CATS, hands down. I mean, I do like the dogs barking Jingle Bells, but the cats crack me the hell up. And you have to listen to Alvin & the Chipmunks (Christmas Don't Be Late).
Sorry Grandma, not really into you getting run over by a reindeer, especially after seeing the manner in which some of local idiots drive in bad weather around my city...that's just not right.
When it comes to some SERIOUS holiday music...can't beat Handel's MESSIAH, can you?
Well, Beethoven's 9th Symphony comes close, but...no cigar, kids.
And then there are THE CAROLS....all of them.
Give me some chorale singing Christmas carols, and I can't get much happier.
My personal favorites are performed by Chanticleer or Mannheim Steamroller.
It's this time of year that seems to be the ONLY time we have so many "mission-specific" songs, isn't it?
We used to sing them all in church...in school...at home...wherever.
I used to play in our musical group at church (guitar) and we always looked forward to playing at Christmas. I miss that, too.
But there is always...EGG NOG.
Now THAT says Christmas...and the way I make egg nog, well, let's just say that a few of these and all that cold weather outside doesn't seem all that cold for some reason. Yep, it's sure to get you snug in your bed and off to dreamland...I guarantee it.
Used to be a time when friends came over or you went to their house and exchanged gifts...I miss that too. All of us have scattered to the four winds, it seems, along with others we've lost along the way.
Now, the missus and I head up to our former neighbors (and still good friends) past Harlan, Indiana and play Santa for the afternoon. We take goodies for everyone, and that includes the horses they have, and the dogs and the cats.
I do miss going to visit our aunt and uncle in Portland, IN, but with both of them in a nursing home now (and our aunt not doing well), it tends to "put one off of one's game", so to speak.
And it's this time of year that we all have to be careful not to get DEPRESSED.
I admit to being in that crowd, and the struggle to keep Christmas "merry" is a chore. Seems to get that way as we get older.
I didn't plan it that way, and I'd much rather be able to halt time at Christmas, and work with that for a few decades.
But time waits for no one.
So, we have all of the things we remember...the things that really MEAN Christmas to us all.
They might be small, or they might be great, but to every one of us, they are all a part of us now.
The ability to enjoy the season itself, aside from all the running around and spending is what is truly meaningful.
The joy of watching a Christmas classic at home, or hearing those carols echo through the house is something that, to borrow from a favorite song of mine "helps to make the season bright".
So feel free to comment on what YOUR favorites are...I know I've missed plenty, but what is important is that we ALL do have such favorites that exemplify what Christmas is all about for each of us.
Oh, and we have TEN shopping days until Christmas...in case you were wondering.
Do good today...make a difference, and as always,
Stay safe out there, America.


((tomorrow: Gitmo "north", cyber-banging, & education "stuff"))