Oh, we've been working toward the insanity of the holidays. There was Thanksgiving...which is barely a misty memory. And there's been the shopping. Even last night Mallory and I were buying a few more mini-bows for packages. The tree has been up and decorated since...well, whenever the Heisman Trophy winner was announced...and wasn't Collin Klein.
I admit I've lost track of time. Deadlines are part of the problem. The last was just a week ago. And although I shouldn't admit it, I'm not a big holiday person. I'm not sure why. I loved holidays as a child...a teen...and even a young adult. Somewhere along the line, something caused me to adopt a slight Scrooge-view of the winter holidays. However, I do try. In fact, I decided I needed to put on my jingle bells.
Music. Christmas music. From Trans-Siberian Orchestra's A Mad Russian's Christmas to Gene Autry's Frosty the Snowman to The Carpenter's Carol of the Bells and I'll Be Home for Christmas and back to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Those are my jingle bells. This year it started later than usual, but only because I've been focused on so many other things.
Yesterday Mallory and I attended the program at the elementary school where the four oldest of the g-kids attend. Kindergarten through fifth graders gathered in the gym-sized lunch room, along with tons of family and friends. It was a real crush. ☺ Afterward over an hour of listening to their Christmas songs, we gathered the two boys to take them home, while the two girls went to their after-school activity. To my surprise, I was given a stack of twenty thank-you cards from the third grade class where I gave a talk on writing last week. I still smile when I think of those hand-drawn cards and hope I encouraged those who are sometimes too afraid to share their dreams and ideas on paper. And gave them a tiny glimpse into the world of published writing.
All of this is a round-about way of saying that music can often make a huge difference. Of course choosing the right music matters, but when it comes to Christmas music, it's really, really hard to keep the spirit of the season--no matter what the holiday and in spite of sunny, warm weather--while listening to favorites. Ooooh! Harry Connick, Jr singing Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. What gets better than that?
Once the holidays have past, I'll be back on a regular blogging and writing schedule. In fact, after Christmas we'll get started again on setting goals...because it's THAT time of the year again.
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