My Christmas muse in all his 80s glory
Since my childhood, I've connected Christmas with certain songs that have the power to jumpstart my holiday celebrations. When I was young, Raffi's Christmas album played during the drive to and from grandma's house. (Note: If you have kids, you've got to have Raffi. Forget the Wiggles and Barney and all those crazy talking creatures -- Raffi is the real deal). During my teen years, an addiction to country music introduced me to a whole new set of Christmas music (how can you not laugh during "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer?!), and since then, my holiday doesn't really begin until I hear this song.
And every year, as if by magic, the mellow voice of Skip Ewing comes pouring out of my car speakers and I end up with teary eyes and goosebumps that have nothing to do with the winter chill. Thanks to Prime Country on Sirius/XM, I was happily greeted with the song as I headed back to the office after lunch.
After all this time, I haven't quite figured out what about this song touches me so deeply, but there's a part of me that waits in giddy anticipation until I hear it, even if it's the day (or two) before Christmas. It doesn't get any less meaningful as the years pass, and although the annual game of radio roulette might seem like an odd tradition, it's one I'll always carry with me as long as Skip's touching composition continues to grace the airwaves.
"She said my name is Christmas Carol/I was born on Christmas Day/I don't know who my daddy is/And mommy's gone away/All I want for Christmas is someone to take me home/Does anyone want a Christmas Carol of their own?"
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