For this "months" post...I thought I would dedicate it to...Father Christmas. For the 6 other people in my family this book holds some serious memories. You see, our "Father" - was well...I think he was dropped on the wrong doorstep. Maybe the stork got lost...maybe he was afraid of cold-weather...but he should've taken our father to the north pole...because the man LOVES CHRISTMAS...in fact - that's an understatement. In high school we dubbed him "Clark" as in Clark W. Griswald, after he purchased the largest tree possible from the Choralair Christmas Tree lot and then had to have a special stand welded together to hold it. Not to mention the obsession (I say that with much love) with Christmas tree lights - many unsuspecting friends and family members would happen by after Thanksgiving only to be thrown a bucket of lights and told to "get to work"...of course all of this merriment was accompanied by the 500 Christmas CDs that he owns. (We really should get the man an ipod).Now the Readers Digest Merry Christmas Songbook became famous (or some members of my family would argue infamous) on one particular Christmas Eve many many years ago. It was before the "Formal Tuxedo and Prom dress Christmas Eve" (complete with my 40 year-old aunt and her 7 day old baby in attendance-and full photo session before-hand)...it was before the "Christmas in the Desert" with the oil-laden Christmas tree and magic shooting fire star that was "supposed" to light the bonfire on fire...and it was WAY before our family's walk from Nazareth to Jerusalem to Jericho to Bethlehem (NO I'm not making this up and YES our costumes would have given any full-on movie production a run for their money-we even had a 9-month pregnant Mary). The particular Christmas Eve I'm referring to took place in our darkened living room with only a piano light (and of course the little red light from the video camera that was on the ENTIRE time and has provided proof of this actually occurring). The only people present were my mother and father (Christmas) and my brothers and sister....AND there in the middle of the piano was the Readers Digest Merry Christmas Songbook (all 275 pages of it.) And what did our Christmas program consist of that year??? Any guesses?
How about...The Noble family singing ALL 275 pages of the Readers Digest Merry Christmas Songbook. Now in Fathers Christmas defense...he did try to break it up and have some boy songs and some girl songs...and somewhere along the way I remember my sister being angry about something (must not have gotten the solo she wanted) and she got up and stomped off...then (probably after being threatened) she slumps back into view of the camera.
Such wonderful wonderful Christmas Memories associated with this "heirloom"....and I had a wave of emotion pass over me as I pulled it out and dusted it off this season - okay it was more like borderline hysteria remembering...
I hope that Father Christmas forgives me for taking part of his audience and keeping them home this Christmas Eve...(we will swiftly race down on Christmas Day)...but you see...part two of this post will come later as I tell of our own little "traditions" that we've started--okay just my own kids and their reaction to The Readers Digest Merry Christmas Songbook.
(Now I have to go and take a nap...blogging has completely exhausted me!)
4 comments:
Wow. This really made me laugh. I knew your Dad was crazy for Christmas, but all that stuff is so funny. I love that Readers Digest Christmas Book. Erik's parents have it and I also try to play every song in the book. It's a good one.
thanks for the memories, seeing that book gives me nightmares
I have a special respect for Father Christmas (and his wife)...of course I can say that because I was not "exposed" to all your Christmas Eve adventures!! However my 2 year old thoroughly enjoyed his light display. I think we sat in front of his house for 5 minutes, before she was ready to go. Several years ago my hubby was responsible for the 2nd ward Christmas party and with Father Christmas as Bishop, it was no small affair...I thought I was going to have to have Dean committed by the time it was over!! Good times!!!
275 songs! You guys stood around in the dark and sang all 275 songs?! Some would consider that abuse...Other consider it tradition.
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