The air is getting crisp, leaves are falling, and I am thinking about the upcoming Holidays. I'm not religious or even Christian, but I love Christmas Carols. They take me back to my childhood.. They are the soundtrack to Christmases past: As a small child, I remember sitting on the floor by the 1950's style Blaubunkt stereo console. On the left side of the console was a hidden liquor cabinet full of colorful bottles. On the right side was a colorful radio with knobs and buttons. Below that was the record player. I would stack the records, pull the lever, and listen to the beautiful Christmas carols of Bing Crosby, German Chorals, and some Gospel albums.
My father, a musician in a previous lifetime, would occasionally pull out his trumpet and blast us with music. That was kind of annoying. A trumpet doesn't really belong in a 1960's style ranch house.
One Christmas he bought me a toy electric organ and taught me some popular Christmas carols. We set it up and I practiced the songs by following the big colorful dots on the pages and on the keys. It was pretty cool. I was making music! I played "Silent Night," and the adults stood by the organ and sang in a multi-pitch, uneven rendition . It was Christmas eve, 1970.
And now, forty years later, I'm here, driving down Pine Street in Boulder, Colorado, looking at the churches, wanting Christmas Carols and something more... and no, I haven't become a musician.
(Few weeks later)
My kids made dreidels in public school today: they learned some Jewish songs too. Last year it was Kwanza. They've learned Mexican folk songs and a dance for Cinco de Mayo. They've learned some Chinese words and songs BUT..... Have they learned a single Christmas carol, ever? "Rudolph-the red nose reindeer," maybe... We need some Christmas Carols!
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