I love to hear the Christmas music and hymns played at this time of the year. Unfortunately, my happy elf personality is tempered by some Grinch like people that I work with. I love to have the Christmas music on after Thanksgiving. Most of my co-workers do not appreciate it and let me know this. Every year. Recently, I was driving somewhere with my son-in-law and I mentioned how much I liked the song playing on the radio. It was Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. He replied that none of the Christmas music really meant anything to him either way. So, I told him the story of why the music had such special memories for me.
My dad was an insurance agent for his whole career. One of his clients was a family that owned a bar and grill. My parents did not, as a rule, take us to bars but on Christmas Eve, every year, this bar owning family would host a family style open house lunch, complete with a live band and yummy food. The owner, Miggsi, would make a big fuss over all the customers children, his wife and kids were there too. It was so much fun to go to this party every year. One year, I was old enough to take notice of the band and the lively Christmas music that they played. I particularly loved “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”. It was a feel good song.
We all laughed and danced and had a fun family day.
Eventually, I grew up, went to college and was not home yet when the annual party was held. I remember feeling nostalgic when my mom would tell me that they had been to the Merry go Round for the annual party. I recently had a chance to talk with my dad about how much this memory meant to me. He actually thanked me for telling him this! Yep, Dad, you gave us great memories.
To this day, Christmas music reminds me of my happy childhood. We didn’t have a lot of material stuff, but my parents provided a good life for us. Our Christmas’s were simple and the gifts were modest but loved. My mom always loved the music of the season too and we would sing carols and listen to the songs of Christmas in our home. So, indulge me and my short yearly journey down memory lane while I “Rock Around the Christmas Tree”.
Merry Christmas!
Oh Janet you know I feel the same way! ChristmAs music to me is the best way of drifting back to my wonderful childhood and my awesome parents who also weren’t wealthy, but made sure my brother and I had a special Christmas morning every year !
And my parents were decorators as well! From the house I grew up in Baltimore city all the way down to the house in arden, my father would put on a magical light show .
And he loved to sing the Christmas hymns in church.
When we lost him it did damper our spirit the first few years, but we remembered the “Reason for the Season ” and I knew my father wouldn’t have wanted us to be sad ever, because his faith was that strong.
So you play your Christmas music, and just imagine me singing along with you and Brenda Lee !
Have a very Merry Christmas Janet, you and yours!!!!
Xoxo
Wendy
🙂
Nice story!