Christmas Memories

On the way home yesterday, I heard a song on the radio I haven't heard in years.  It was " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" sung (spoken) by Perry Como. 

The moment that song started, I knew it instantly and a flood of memories came back. Now, I can't find my keys, phone, wallet, shoes, cat, on a regular basis, but when I heard this song I was instantly transported back to 1981.

My grandmother would always play the record on her Hi-Fi and her Hi-Fi stereo was more than just a radio, it was a piece of furniture.

I remember the front slide open to reveal the record player and dials inside.  The speakers where hidden by fabric on each side. You can see it in the background to the right here:

(Gee, the living room looks much larger now.)

She had a record player that could be "stacked" with records.  Once one record finished, the needle would raise, the arm would move, and another record would fall and start playing.  As a kid, it was the coolest to watch when the record would change.  "Don't touch!" You didn't want the needle to scratch the record.

I loved Christmas and Christmas music then and I still love it today. Gran had a big collection of records with lots of Christmas albums.  I'm certain she was tired of hearing this song, because I asked for her to play it all the time. What's not to like about the smooth voice of Perry Como?

I can remember standing at the top of the stairs, looking out the small windows in the front door, at the Christmas lights adorning the neighbor's house on the street below.

Gran and Pap would also put candles in the windows.  Not the single flicker candles or icicle lights like we have today, but an electric, 5 blub candle with a switch on the cord.

Getting all the same color bulbs was always the tough part because any bulbs you had from last year were always just a slightly different color from this year's. Nobody wanted a missing or burnt out blub.  And you'd better be careful when you turned off the switch or pulled the curtain, because one slip and the entire base would fall and then you'd be replacing all of the bulbs.  Oh and don't let the bulb touch the sheer curtains either!

I still remember all the words and sang (spoke) along with Perry in the car on the way home. Even now, when I read the words, I hear Perry's voice.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

by Clement Clark Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house 

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, 

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; 

  The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! 

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; 

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. 

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; 

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, 

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose, 

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”