I’ve pretty much been a music guy all my life. This is just the way it’s been. But due to the inspiration of a few, I have been *trying* to turn over a new leaf and actually pay attention to the words. It’s been a hard task…but I’m getting better. For years, my best friend, [...]
I’ve pretty much been a music guy all my life. This is just the way it’s been. But due to the inspiration of a few, I have been *trying* to turn over a new leaf and actually pay attention to the words. It’s been a hard task…but I’m getting better.
For years, my best friend, Katrin, has taken on the challenge of getting me into the Christmas spirit and emailing or writing the lyrics of Christmas songs. It runs a close second to her actually being there to sing them to me. :) But this year, I took it upon myself to really pay attention to some of the words in the songs of the season. Like most people, I grew up listening to these songs and singing along, not really knowing what I was singing. So I stopped…and I reflected. And I analyzed (only a little bit). And do you want to know what I came up with?
Christmas songs really are stupid.
Well, not all of them. But a lot of them just don’t make any sense. Sure, they paint a picture of festive celebration and merriment…but the meanings get lost in the hokeyness. Now, Christmas carols in general are nice (Away in a Manger, O Holy Night, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Joy To The World, Silent Night, etc)…but when you get into the non-traditional songs (Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Winter Wonderland, White Christmas…) you start to get in to the more questionable songs. Anyway, that’s my little piece on that. Don’t get me wrong; I love Christmas and it really is “the most wonderful time of the year,” it’s just that I could probably do without some of the tunes.
My Christmas was delightful. How was yours? I remember a time when Christmas was all about the box. The bigger the box, the better. As a kid, it’s hard sometimes to be cognizant of the true meaning of Christmas. I think I took a lot of things for granted…things like staying up late with my sister and trying to sneak out of our room to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. As a matter of fact, that was the same year Santa brought us our first bikes. Mine was bright red and her’s was pink; which is funny in itself because my sister HATES pink. I remember almost dying on Christmas Eve one year; that probably wasn’t a fun memory, but I did live to tell the tale. I always remember being together with family on Christmas. Even family that sometimes get on my nerves (because sometimes family does that). But it was always good to be together.
In my adultness, Christmas has taken on a new meaning. The presents I get are usually from myself and are dispersed throughout the year. And my stocking with the little bell and the teddy bear are somewhere at home with my mom. But I don’t think any of that matters…the decorations and the presents and stuff. I just enjoy being with my family; and that is what Christmas should be. Togetherness.
Peace on earth. I can’t remember sitting in front of the TV watching the eleven o’clock news and not thinking to myself, “Wow, this is one messed up world we live in.” Don’t you ever get depressed watching the news? But for the first five minutes of the Christmas newscast, there was nothing but good, warm, heartfelt stories of giving and sharing. Like the firefighters from Station 26 who drove around town giving bikes to kids. Why can’t the media report good stuff like that everyday? It makes the world seem a little less messed up when you realize there are good people out there doing good things.
Yesterday I got to spend some time with Katrin and her family. We went to see Narnia, but ended up seeing Memoirs of a Geisha because Narnia was sold out. Memoirs was an exceptional film. The cinematography was amazing. I would highly recommend it. We went to dinner at Islands, but not before we went to Best Buy so Kat could purchase a laptop. Yes, it is true…she has gone PC after all these years. I just might have to go Mac now.
Now, after all of the nice Christmas stories, we were abruptly reminded of the bad stuff; we were up in Mira Mesa when some dudes in ski masks ripped off an Old Navy store. We were actually in the theatre when it happened, but it must have just happened because police were swarming all over the place. It was quite intense.
Well, I’m back at work after a nice three-day weekend. And this week is moving week, which will not be very fun…but I think it will be good once I’m all moved and settled. It will be good to kick off 2006 in a new pad…and I’m sure it’s just the beginning of good things to come in the New Year.