Christmas Lists and Musings

Its currently 15 degrees and snowing here at the home office in Lansing, Michigan so with the tree lights going, christmas songs playing and 9 days until Tim Allen delivers the gifts, I thought I would jot a few things down.

Being the youtube freak that I am, I gathered some Christmas tunes. One of my all time favorites is this one...

Can't believe its been 24 years since that one. I also found the version from Live Aid the next year and the one from Band Aid 20 back in '04...I didn't know there was a Band Aid 20. It had Dido, some rapper and a bunch of other mooks who I didn't know but it did have Bono doing the same part he did in 84. Next year will be 25 years, they should reunite the original cast and do it again, providing they can keep Boy George out of jail and George Michael out of public restrooms.

My top 10 Christmas Songs:
1. O Holy Night-Perry Como
2. All I want for Chrismas is you-Vince Vance and the Valiants
3. Little Drummer Boy-Crosby& Bowie or Bob Seger
4. Christmas Eve in Sarajevo-Trans Siberian Orchestra
5. Ave Maria-Pavarotti
6. Do you hear what I hear?- Bing Crosby
7. I believe in Father Christmas- Emerson, Lake and Palmer
8. 12 Pains of Christmas
9. Santa and his old lady- Cheech and Chong
10. Silent Night-Stevie Nicks

My top five songs from Christmas Specials:
1. I believe in Santa Claus-"The year without a Santa Claus"
2. There's always tomorrow-"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. My world is beginning today- "Santa Claus is coming to town"
4. Snow Miser/Heat Miser- "The year without a Santa Claus"
5. Linus' monologue- "A Charlie Brown Christmas (OK, its not a song but I love it)

My top five Christmas Specials:
1. Charlie Brown Christmas
2. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Year without a Santa Claus
4. Santa Claus is coming to town
5. Frosty the Snowman

My top five favorite Christmas Movies:
1. Santa Clause trilogy
2. Elf
3. A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart version)
4. Once Upon a Christmas/Twice upon a Christmas
5. Mr. St. Nick

Top 5 things great about Christmas in Michigan:
1. Its actually cold on Christmas day!
2. Snow
3. being around my nieces and nephews opening their gifts.
4. Hanging out with family and no drama is involved!
5. Going to Eaton Rapids, some of the prettiest country you will see.

Top 5 things great about Christmas in S.A.:
1. Tamales!
2. Not having to scrape off ice/brush off snow from the car.
3. Going to TC to get Christmas Morning tacos!
4. Sonic chocolate mint shakes for my wife
5. Seeing my closest friends my favorite time of the year.

I know...you are thinking...where is the most obvious list...the "mikey's gift list"

Honestly, I don't have one. I admit as a kid, I was all about the swag. I carried that into my early adult life until 1995. When I was working at Amex, we volunteered for the Elf Louise project. Our job was to play Santa. We delivered gifts to needy families that were donated to the project. When you are told by a young mother that without you, her children would not have a christmas, you are changed forever. I was doing good that night until that point. I walked outside and started to cry. I went home that night and thanked God for all the Christmases I was blessed to have. I never had a bad one. We always had a warm house, plenty of food and gifts always under the tree. I think that is why I love the Christmases up here. Back home, there was always a bit of drama but it really grew when my Grandmother passed. She didn't allow it and when she was gone, my relatives proceeded to forget everything she was about and made it about them and that did the one thing to me that I thought could never happen. It created hate within me. I don't think I will ever go back to San Antonio for Christmas. San Antonio is the city of my birth and I love it and the people there with all my heart but those closest to me took the best day of the year and destroyed it. God tried to do that with me and Thanksgiving by taking my friend but I didn't allow it. Christmas though, was too much for me to fight. If I do go back, it will be to see my friends and if they would allow it, to spend the day with them. The "core" as I call them (my core of friends) have never let me down. The person at the top of that core is a certain blogger that I have known for 20+ years. We have fought, drank, cried, laughed, dreamed, and drank some more together and if I don't tell her I love her enough, well its because some of that drinking killed some brain cells.

The best thing about this time of year though, is seeing my wife shine. The Yule season was made for Erica Ann. She sparkles the entire year but damn if that doesn't get brighter during the holidays. Seeing her at her best this time of year is the best gift anyone can get. Last year and 2005 I was in serious holiday funks...she got me out of them by just being her and I will never forget that, and if I don't tell her I love her enough, well...its that brain cell thing again.

My final list goes like this:

5 things I am not afraid to admit to about this time of year:
1. I believe in Santa Claus
2. Christmas specials and songs still make me tear up
3. You can't have too many decorations up or lights.
4. When it comes to Christmas morning, I still feel like a kid.
5. I believe we are all capable of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.

Oh and if a Colt McCoy or DeMarcus Ware jersey made it under the tree....that's ok too.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.