Christmas Memories

  

Above, a Florida version of Christmas, when we lived near the Intracoastal and had a boat at our dock.  Although no longer in boating and no longer living on the water, we remain in Florida but it has made little difference in my attitude that the Florida version is still a humbug!

 

Christmas was part of my upbringing in NYC.  When we were married, Ann carried on a tradition which was not her own, the best Christmas hostess ever!  It was never a real religious holiday for me.

 

And when we raised our family of two boys in Connecticut, we tried to make the holiday a special moment in their lives as well. Alas, with our aging and their leaving to pursue their own lives, we no longer put up a tree or do anything more than visit friends who still carry on the tradition.

 

Also, at this point in our lives, we are on the agnostic/atheism spectrum. I never criticize believers, as I, in return, do not expect them to proselytize. In our country today, though, the Christian right has been given permission to run amok, which has resulted in a severe case of Christougenniatikophobia for us.

 

Nonetheless, the Christmases of my past loom in memory.

 

One of my earliest was when I was maybe six or seven. My father had returned from WW II and had bought a small house in south Richmond Hill, Queens—two stories—and I had my own small bedroom adjacent to the home's one bathroom at the top of the stairs. 

 

It was Christmas Eve, and I later learned that a neighbor traditionally dressed up as Santa Claus and made the rounds in the neighborhood to wish everyone good cheer and to take a nip of any eggnog or other libation that might be served at that particular household. Although it was late at night when he visited, I was still awake in anticipation of Christmas morning. Suddenly I heard the doorbell and then a bellowing "Ho-ho!" and I ran to the top of the stairs to peek and was stunned to not only see Santa Claus but realize he saw me! I stepped back into the shadows and heard him say, "Is that you, Bobby? Good boys should be asleep by now!" I was nonplussed. Did that mean I wouldn't get any presents? So I answered, "No, it's not Bobby," running back into my bedroom and quietly closing the door. 

 

I guess that night I struggled over my stupidity, but at the time, maybe I just hoped he took whomever answered at his word. Silly, I know, but remembered.

 

Better remembrances were of our adult lives, raising our kids in Connecticut. One tradition was to go to a Christmas tree farm, ride in a horse-drawn wagon, and cut our own tree. But I'll mark the holiday with this brief entry without venturing further into memory, other than posting some photos, including a video.

 

The above was our family Christmas portrait in 1977.

 

I loved the snow when it first began to fall, and although this is not a Christmas snow photo, it was one of those winters where we had a lot.

 

 

Early Christmas morning, the kids up before Mom, anticipating the day. I had bought a train set the year before and each Christmas set it up during the holiday.

 

Finally, Christmas meant music, a time when I would play those songs on the piano, at home and at our yearly office Christmas party. My favorite Christmas song is "I'll Be Home for Christmas." I explained the reason why in an article I wrote seven years ago, "If Only in My Dreams."

 

Although I embed a video of playing that song in my entry, it is best listened to on YouTube at this link

 

And so to all a good night!

 

‘If Only In My Dreams’ Redux

 

A few years ago I wrote one of my most heartfelt entries about Christmas.  I am not a religious person, but one does not experience a lifetime of Christmases and not be moved by its mere secular presence.  My feelings about the holiday have not changed and therefore I am copying that piece without the photographs it contained, and but embedding the performances of all four songs mentioned, my favorites of the holiday season. 

 

 If Only In My Dreams

 

And so the classic song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" ends with that memorable line “if only in my dreams.”

 

And that is sort of the way I feel at this stage of my life.  Christmases are now dreams of the past, anticipating the holiday as a child and then the pleasures Ann and I had in creating memorable holiday moments for our children as they grew up.  The classic song itself is particularly evocative of the distant past popularized by Bing Crosby and so many others, first recorded at the peak of WW II.

 

Undoubtedly it was played frequently by my mother and my grandparents with whom we lived while my father was in Germany at the conclusion of the War, wanting to get home, but he was part of the occupying force and didn’t make it home until right after Christmas 1945.  "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is probably implanted in the recesses in my mind as every time I hear it I feel a sudden melancholy.

 

When my father came home he brought a wooden replica of the Jeep he drove in Germany for me.  I don’t remember his return, or getting the Jeep, but somehow that 70 year old Jeep has accompanied me wherever I lived.  Sometimes when I look at it, I can hear "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

 

In some past blog entries I’ve posted videos of other Christmas songs I like to play, in particular the following:  “It's Love -- It's Christmas,”  a seldom performed Christmas song, written by none other than the great jazz pianist Bill Evans. And, then, “Christmas Time Is Here” is by Vince Guaraldi, a great jazz musician too but his music will always be associated with the Peanuts Christmas specials.

 

Finally, there is “Christmas Lullaby,” probably the most unknown Christmas song. It was written for Cary Grant by none other than Peggy Lee (Lyrics) and Cy Coleman (Music). It is the simplest of tunes and lyrics but therein is its beauty.

 

So, on the eve of this Christmas I post my piano rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with fond memories of my Dad and Christmases past .

 

 

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

 

 

It's Love -- It's Christmas

 

 

 

Christmas Time Is Here

 

 

 

Christmas Lullaby

 

 

Christmas Redux

Over the years I’ve posted these YouTube piano “performances” of my favorite Christmas songs.  I present them here in one place and by clicking onto the title, one can read my original reason for recording each.  Interspersed are some photographs of Christmas here in Florida.  It’s certainly not the same as our Connecticut years but it is the same spirit.

The first is by none other than Bill Evans and it’s the most viewed of my selections. 

It's Love -- It's Christmas 

 Luminaries light the way on our road throughout Christmas Eve.

Here is one of my very favorites, by Vince Guaraldi, something this great jazz pianist wrote for A Charlie Brown Christmas special in 1965.

Christmas Time Is Here 

 Many homes are decorated along the Intracoastal Waterway

This is an unusual one in that it was written by none other than Peggy Lee.  It’s rarely performed yet beautiful

Christmas Lullaby 

The Palm Beach Boat Parade organizes in front of Old Port Cove and is preceded by fireworks all along the parade route up to Jupiter.

And the last is one of the iconic Christmas songs we hear again and again, but as I’m away from “home” – NYC where I was born and will always identify with -- it has a special meaning to me.

I'll Be Home for Christmas  

May your holidays be happy and healthy!

If Only In My Dreams

And so the classic song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" ends with that memorable line “if only in my dreams.”

And that is sort of the way I feel at this stage of my life.  Christmases are now dreams of the past, anticipating the holiday as a child and then the pleasures Ann and I had in creating memorable holiday moments for our children as they grew up.  The classic song itself is particularly evocative of the distant past popularized by Bing Crosby and so many others, first recorded at the peak of WW II. 

Undoubtedly it was played frequently by my mother and my grandparents with whom we lived while my father was in Germany at the conclusion of the War, wanting to get home, but he was part of the occupying force and didn’t make it home until right after Christmas 1945.  "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is probably implanted in the recesses in my mind as every time I hear it I feel a sudden melancholy. 

When my father came home he brought a wooden replica of the Jeep he drove in Germany for me.  I don’t remember his return, or getting the Jeep, but somehow that 70 year old Jeep has accompanied me to wherever I lived.  Sometimes when I look at it, I can hear "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

In some past blog entries I’ve posted videos of other Christmas songs I like to play, in particular the following:  “It's Love -- It's Christmas,”  a seldom performed Christmas song, written by none other than the great jazz pianist Bill Evans. And, then, “Christmas Time Is Here” is by Vince Guaraldi, a great jazz musician too but his music will always be associated with the Peanuts Christmas specials.

Finally, there is “Christmas Lullaby,” probably the most unknown Christmas song. It was written for Cary Grant by none other than Peggy Lee (Lyrics) and Cy Coleman (Music). It is the simplest of tunes and lyrics but therein is its beauty.

So, on the eve of this Christmas I post my piano rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with fond memories of my Dad and Christmases past.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas"

I'll be home for Christmas;

You can plan on me.

Please have snow and mis-tle-toe

And presents on the tree.

Christmas eve will find me

Where the love light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

I'll be home for Christmas;

You can plan on me.

Please have snow and mis-tle-toe

And presents on the tree.

Christmas eve will find me

Where the love light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams