As Christmas fades here in Maryland, it is as cold as December. There is a skiff of snow on the ground that makes it all pretty without ruining the roads for travel. I attended a party with my second cousins this year. They are part of the next generation in my family, young men and women with children in those wondrous ages from about 4 to 12 years old. I do not see them often, maybe every 3 or 4 years, but I was asked to bring my guitar and I did.

We had some flute, violin, and vocal Christmas music from the kids and then I got out my box. I started with a few carols, just the guitar, no singing. My 88 year old uncle who often doesn't even know what building he is began to sing along. Slowly others joined in.

Late, I began with my second cousins' favorite song, "I Wish I Was a Little Bar of Soap." I first sang it for these young women when they were probably six or seven. Without prompting, they joined in, and then their husbands joined in and finally their children joined in. I sang a few new verses I have learned. The song has been passed along to two generations and it warms my heart to have been apart of it.

The other "requests" were for "How Do I Know My Youth is All Spent" and "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road." Not Christmas, but as family remembrances.

This holiday is already a special warm memory in my heart because music has enabled us to touch each other. My aunt and uncle, the matriarch and patriarch of this group. May not last another Christmas and all of the adults know this. This Christmas will forever be special to me and I believe for others in the room as well, and the music will be a part of that.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Roger in Baltimore