Kenny Chesney has a song, "I Go Back", and one of the lines goes like this, 'we all have a song that somehow stamped our lives...' This is true for everyone, whether we realize it our not.
There are songs that have stamped my life, some are fun, some sentimental, some just sad.
Included with those songs that have somehow stamped my life are a handful of Christmas songs, songs that evoke images of events past that I will never forget, nor would I want to.
When I hear "Silver Bells" I hear my Dad singing it, with a deep baritone. He didn't know all the words, but he could kill on the chorus. He would sing the chorus, then hum the rest. When he hummed I could hear his mom, my Grandma. She hummed a lot and sang, always always a song in her heart. Dad grew up poor, really poor, and during those years Christmas was probably barely distinguishable from the rest of the year. But you can bet when he sang and hummed Silver Bells as an adult, he thought of those Christmases growing up and hearing his beloved 'mum' singing and humming.
"Away in the Manger" brings back memories so strong that to this day I am at or near tears when I hear it. It was December of 1984, a particularly hard Christmas for the family. My dad died 10 days before Christmas, and then his father, my grandpa, died 5 days later. Their funerals were back to back on successive days, just a few days before Christmas. At the end of Grandpa's service the Pastor had the congregation sing "Away in the Manger" as the pallbearers carried grandpa out of the church. It was the culmination of some tough days, and I could not sing the song. I know the words, but could not get them out. To this day, when I hear that song I'm back in the pews in Lund Lutheran Church, sitting next to my sisters and cousin Deb and watching grandpa taking his last journey as his friends, neighbors and family sing "Away in the Manger".
"Jingle Bells" evokes a happier time, a big family Christmas at my sister's house in California. Nearly every year the whole family would gather for Christmas Eve; aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, the whole clan. A big expansive meal, then clean up, then presents. One particular year, I was washing dishes with my niece Angela, and we spontaneously starting singing Jingle Bells. Soon most of the family joined in, and it was a joyous time. Ange and I were enthusiastic, if not off key singers, and we really belted it out on the "ho ho ho's", giving the ensemble some kick. Let me tell you, there is nothing better than doing dishes with your niece and singing Jingle Bells. A true Christmas gift I will carry with me forever.
Whatever your favorite Christmas song may be, I hope it is one that brings back strong memories that you cherish and will never forget. The presents come and go, but it's the memories of Christmas past that are true gifts. This year, make a new memory.
feliz navidad
