Sunday, December 13, 2020

A Song For This Christmas Season

Do you think about the song lyrics you hear? Like, really think about them? Typically, I'm drawn in by the tune, notes, and overall sound of a song. There are other times when I'll hear lyrics and they just speak to me, but many times I hear lyrics and then think about them later. My favorite Christmas song has always been, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. The lines, 'there's a tree in the Grand Hotel one in the park as well, the sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow' makes me think of a snowy day Christmas shopping. Walking downtown, shopping bags in my hand, as the snow falls in the afternoon. I just makes me feel Christmas.

My mom is obsessed with all things Christmas, but particularly Christmas music. She could listen to it year round (she likely does, but doesn't tell me because my eyes would probably fall out of my head from an exaggerated eye roll). I'm a firm believer in no Christmas before the turkey has been consumed on Thanskgiving. The first song I listen to first every year is It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. However, this year, as we go through the holiday season there's one song that I find myself playing over and over again. I love it, but it most definitely does not bring the typical Christmas feelings, which I find comforting since this Christmas is anything but typical.

Judy Garland's version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is, simply put, heartbreaking.Yet, it fits the 2020 Christmas season, where we have no idea how we'll celebrate Christmas, when we'll be able to be in the same city, let alone the same room with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. We have no idea when it will be safe to smoosh our faces together for a mandetory family selfie. After listening to Judy sing the song, I realized I have always sung Frank Sinatra's version, which is much more uplifting. I don't like one over the other, one just fits this December's mood better than the other.

Unlike Judy's song, I'm not heartbroken this holiday season. Disappointed sure, but not heartbroken. Will I be more than ready to go all out Christmas (hopefully) next year? You betcha. We are finding the joy in this year's simplicity. It's the only year where we haven't had hundreds of events to choose to attend. I can enjoy ALL the Christmas movies, do a puzzle, watch the snow fall, and place another Amazon order. As far as I know, there's no holiday song that captures this year. Until then, I'll keep playing Judy's version as I sip hot chocolate and finish a new puzzle.