I'd like to thank Carol for kindly starting this thread and making it broad enough to cover a full range of holidays. She might have extended it to Easter but who can complain about a holiday to celebrate nailing somebody? This thread has been inactive but now that Christmas is coming, perhaps we should revisit our holiday joys, sorrows and phobias. Another warm thank you goes out to everyone who already confessed his or her feelings on this thread.

Alice made a good point above about the effects of winter sunshine.

This morning the sun shone brightly on the fresh snow that covers this area. It felt good. I watched a family check out their cottage on the other side of the frozen canal. The father scouted the property perimeter. He checked the boats and the buildings. The two jostled each other. The bigger boy found a thin stick and gently beat the smaller one as the smaller boy rolled in the snow. Their brown and white spotted spaniel, who often shows more personality than everyone in the extended families that share the old folks cottage, ran around in the snow. Occasionally the dog shoved his nose under the snow pretending he was a snowplow.

Then clouds moved in. The family left. I tried to work but then told myself, fuck it, it Christmastime, I need music.

Anne Murray sings great Christmas music. She gets past the high polish on most of her music and sings straight from her heart. I expect that she had happy Christmases growing up as a Doctor Murray's daughter in Springhill Nova Scotia. (Anne's feelings cut through on a few other tracks too, like when she sings, 'Put on another pot of tea cause I'm in love.' She must have been thinking about tea with real Maritimers when she recorded that lovely song.)

Mahilia Jackson sings great Christmas carols too. However, I felt a bit like making Leonard Cohen's 'Take This Longing From My Heart,' my Christmas music this year. I also thought about sad songs that might sooth my guilt about the woman and the kids and the cats who I can't bring myself to reach out to without feeling crazier than I feel already feel.

While looking for songs I played a bit of Taj Mahal. One song changed my mind. Now I think I'll keep that longing in my heart. I found my Christmas music. I found a Taj Mahal song called Lovin' in my Baby's Eyes. I have been playing it on repeat ever since I first played it early this afternoon. I may leave it on repeat until early January. You may not find it Christmasy and you may not like it but it's my choice. If you don't like my music, don't get on my elevator.

LOVIN' IN MY BABY'S EYES
by Taj Mahal from the album "Phantom Blues"

Look here Baby now you know I can
Be the one to be your man
Baby now you know I'do
Anything in the world for you

Chorus:
To have lovin' from my baby's eyes
oh lovin' from my baby's eyes
See the lovin' in my baby's eyes
Lovin' from my baby's eyes

Look here baby now you know darn well
Love you better than another man could tell
Love you baby now you know i'd do
Anything in the world for you

(Chorus)

Late at night when I take my rest
Oh I hold your picture to my breast
Love you baby now you know I'd do
Anything in the world for you

(Chorus)

Love ya baby
Love ya baby
Mama now you know I do
Love ya baby
Love ya baby
Do anything for you...

Late at night when I take my rest,
Oh I hold you picture to my breast
Love you Mama now you know I'd do
Antything in the world for you

To have lovin' from my baby's eyes
Oh lovin' from my baby's eyes
See that lovin in my baby's eyes
Lovin' from my baby's eyes
Give me that magic in my baby's eyes
Lovin' in my baby's eyes
Give me that lovin' from my baby's eyes
Lovin' from my baby's eyes