I've heard this all my life, "Honesty is the best policy"...so here goes my brutally honest blog. To be blunt, I'm just not a fan of Christmas. I think mostly, I'm just not a fan of all the "hub bub". I know some people live for this time of year, and that's fine, but me? No way, and you will not catch me near a mall until AFTER the holidays. When I was a kid, Christmas was INCREDIBLE! I think it was the anticipation of so many things, the presents, the long break from school, the school Christmas programs, the school Christmas party, and seeing family that you only see a couple of times of year. We'd all pile in at my grandma and grandpa's house in that little town in Illinois. Oh how I just loved it. But funny how time changes things. Now that I'm older, it's just not the same, it just hasn't been the same in years. All the cousins moved on, got married, have families of their own. They stopped coming to grandma and grandpa's. Which is just life...it moves on and things change. But then people started passing away. After the passing of my grandparents in 2005, no holiday has ever been the same. They were my world. I looked forward to coming home from college for the holidays and seeing my grandparents. But now? They're not here. New people live in my grandparents house where so many memories were made, and I haven't been in that house in 7 1/2 years. When I'm home, I drive by "their" house every time I'm there, and I still don't like seeing a strange car parked under "their" carport. Funny thing, though. I've hardly listened to any Christmas music this year, and today I found myself searching Spotify for some Christmas music that I used to listen to every year as a kid. One song I found is "Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis. My parents had his Christmas album on a 33 1/3 record. Oh the days of the record. Man, I would wear that song out. It has always been my favorite "upbeat" Christmas song. I listened to that song, and it took me right back to my room in Illinois where I wore it out. I would listen to it over and over while watching the snow fall...it was SO exciting. Everything was right with the world back in those days. Then I decided to do a search for another album...one that I wore out on my grandparents stereo. I couldn't believe it was actually on Spotify, but there it is. You can laugh, it's ok, because I am, too. It was a Charley Pride 8 track Christmas album. Oh goodness. The bad part? The stereo was in my grandparents living room...you know, where everyone else "hangs out", and here I would be blasting the stereo with Charley Pride belting out "Christmas in my Hometown" while rockin' out in grandma's yellow recliner. I recall some of the cousins laughing at me...now...I know why. So I'd like to apologize to them for torturing them with that country twang. haha! Most Christmases I was sick with a sinus infection, so they probably just felt sorry for me and let me listen because it made me feel better. So today, even though I'm not a "fan" of Christmas, I had to smile just a little more today listening to those old songs. I can still hear the "ka-chunk" when the 8 track would switch to the next set of songs. And I'm sure my grandparents were the only people to still have an 8 track player that worked up until the day they passed away. :-) I'm sure we've all got songs that take us back to a certain place or time in our childhood. So thanks, Spotify, for transporting me back to 1980-somethin' for just a little while today. And just to show I'm not a total Scrooge, I do hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Be sure to thank God for your blessings because all of our good things come from Him. We are all blessed beyond anything we deserve. So today, I hold on to the memories and the hope that one day I'll be celebrating something much bigger than the holidays with my grandparents. And maybe, just maybe, they'll have that ole' 8 track player belting out some Charley Pride just for me. :-) God Bless!
5 comments:
Girl, I was soooooo in love with Charley Pride! I used to lay on the landing that went to the upstairs and listen to his 8 track over and over...and over.. and over... and over... you get the picture. One time my aunt took me to one of his concerts. I thought I was going to pass out!! A week ago I had a dream that I was somewhere walking down a hallway and I heard a voice and stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to the person next to me and whispered "is that Charley Pride". I dared turn around and there he was. I started crying because I got to hug him!!!! I woke up and had to call and tell my mom that I got to hug Charley Pride.... LOL!
OH.MY.GOODNESS. I am laughing so hard right now I'm choking. HAHAHAHAHA! That is the funniest thing ever. Who knew we both LOVED us some Charley Pride? hahahahaha! Absolutely hilarious!! Too bad you weren't with me in the 80's at Christmas, you could have jammed with me. HAHAHAHA!
Christmas is still my favorite time of year. I love searching for just the right gift for everyone and even though they have certain things on their list they aren't guaranteed those items. If I find something I know they will love and "fits" them then that's what I buy. I love talking to my nieces and nephew about Santa and what they anticipate Santa to bring them. My 4 yr old niece this year is in LOVE with Christmas and it's been so much fun to hear her talk about Santa and what he's bringing her, what he looks like, where he lives etc... For me Christmas is the one time of year where everyone seems to smile a little more and be a little nicer to everyone. You see people who are normally grouchy get involved in secret santa exchanges at work, decorate their office and actually smile for a few weeks. People are a little more generous with their money and their time this time of year and I always think what the world would be like if we all had that christmas spirit 12 months out of the year instead of only 1.
So Julie, would this be a good time to tell you that my folks and I actually got to meet Charlie Pride several years ago? We had been to the "Opry and the Ryman" and on our way home we stopped by the Shoney's on Donelson Pike. When we walked it, there was Charlie Pride sitting and waiting for take out. Apparently, he had left the Opry, where he had performed that night, and was getting ready to fly back to Texas. When we walked in, my mom said, "Well, hey Charlie!" He shook our hands and made small talk. He was very nice. :)
On a different note, I had the pleasure of knowing your sweet grandparents. They were absolute "jewels." :) And, as for your love of Christmas music, don't I remember you being a huge Karen Carpenter fan???????
Ok, what in the world? I had no idea you and your family met Charley Pride, Dayna. That is wild!! Do you remember what year that was? So cool!! I know what Shoney's you're talking about, as well, because my family went in that same Shoney's one year after being at Opryland. We were waiting for our table, and a woman that works there comes out with a to go order and says, "Tater ta go!!" We STILL laugh about that to this day. It was hilarious!! hahahaha!
And as for Karen Carpenter, you are correct. I do love their Christmas music, as well. I just didn't really listen to their Christmas music until I was older. "Merry Christmas, Darling" is one of my Karen favorites. :-) Thank you for sharing that memory with me of your mom, dad, you, and ole' Charley Pride! :-)
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