My dad, like many men, was not a big shopper. When my mom would go grocery shopping, my dad would take her, then wait in the car, but he'd bring his crossword puzzle to pass the time. Both of my parents were really into doing crossword puzzles. If you were ever stuck for a gift for my dad, you could always get him crossword puzzle books.
But I digress.
Like I was saying, my dad wasn't a shopper. Except at Christmastime. Oh, during Christmastime, my dad could not get enough of being in stores. I have so many memories of my mom, dad and I going from store to store, browsing, buying, and even the occasional lunch at Arby's.
My dad loved going to discount stores to find that one treasure tucked away among the Ronco pocket fishermen, magic rocks, pet rocks, and snow block makers. He was always looking for unusual and cute gifts or decorations. Mostly, he was looking for Christmas albums. He would buy any and every compilation Christmas album he found. Some of them were great, and some were really terrible.
One year, we went to a store called The Big N (I don't know what the N stood for). If you're looking for a comparison, it would be similar to Big Lots or Ollie's if memory serves. There, he picked up a Christmas album called “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by The Caroleers. What? You've never heard of The Caroleers? Join the club. No one has. Except those of us who owned that album, or friends who came over and heard that album.
That album had the classics “The Weatherman's Christmas Prayer”, “10 Thousand Santa Clauses”, and “Icicles, Holly, Red Berries and Snow”. Still with me? But there was one song on there that I adored, and still do. It's called “The Day Before the Night Before Christmas”.
Every December 23rd, I'd sing that song since we bought that album so many years ago. Of course, no one outside of my house had ever heard the song, and I would get weird looks from everyone. Looking back, it was probably a combination of my singing and the song, but whatever. I still sing the song, and now my kids do, too.*
Way back when, Firestone (yes, that Firestone) put out Christmas compilation albums, and we had some of those, too. It seems I get my eclectic taste in Christmas music from my father. Basically, if it was a Christmas album, my dad would buy it.
Growing up, we always had Christmas music playing while we were decorating. Now, I do, too. I play Christmas music while I wrap presents, when we're baking cookies, and of course while we decorate the tree. My mom would decorate the house with Christmas things, and my dad would decorate the air with Christmas music.
As much as my dad loved Christmas music, there was one song he just couldn't stand: “Feliz Navidad”. I don't know what it was about that song, but it really grated on my dad's nerves.
My parents loved Christmas and shared that love with me. I hope I can share that love with my family as well as my parents did with me. My parents loved buying gifts for people, they loved seeing relatives and friends, sending and receiving Christmas cards. My mom loved baking cookies, and my dad loved eating them.
I love everything about Christmas. I love how the world is just a little kinder, a little less sharp. I love the sounds and smells of Christmas. I even love Christmas snow (not that we'll get any this year). I love how kids are filled with anticipation, excitement, and wonder. I love how seeing loved ones is that much more special because it's Christmas. Hugs are a little tighter, goodbyes a little longer. Christmas evokes feelings like no other time of year.
Christmas is also a time for remembering. You remember Christmases past and all the things that went with them. The people, the parties, the gifts, the food...all of it. I expect this Christmas will be full or melancholy memories, and sharing the funny stories we remember. Everything will be just as it's meant to be, and we'll be making new and different memories.
*By the way, I know this is sort of a rehash of my Christmas music post, but it's also a little different. I haven't totally lost it.
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