There is music for every season and occasion. When listening to music one conjures up visions that, to them, relate to the melodic vibrations they are enjoying.  The Christmas season is my favorite time of special music.

Finally we are getting some cooler and wetter weather that is appropriate and helps build the atmosphere for Christmas. A few years past, Mannheim Steamroller made the big stage with their unique renditions of Christmas music and has remained a solid part of my music library.  One problem I have is the season just doesn’t last long enough.

Daily the mail carrier dutifully deposits a Christmas card of two in my mailbox on the curb. Anxiously we open the envelope to view the beautiful scenes of snow covered pastures, trees loaded with snow, icicles hanging on structures and snowmen.  We read the messages in the cards and look again at the picture before placing it in a prominent position for family and friends to enjoy.  Who dreamed up these graceful, calming scenes of peaceful solitude?  Where do they live to experience the message these cards send?

In my seventy years of celebrating Christmas, I can remember having four white Christmases. That means about five percent of the time we actually have a white Christmas.  Did you ever try travelling during a white Christmas?  Flights are usually delayed, roads are icy and dangerous and people’s nerves are on edge.  Is this the way to enjoy the picturesque vision we have of white Christmases?

Have you ever built a snowman? If you did, did he stand in royal form in a yard of undisturbed snow?  Did he sing and dance when completed?  Most likely you had piles of wet clothes and shivering children needing attention.  If you are lucky the kids won’t catch cold or get sick from creating this magnificent structure.  In reality most of our snow comes in January or February with Christmas just a memory replaced with sludge and mud.

In the meantime, from now through December 25^th, I will enjoy the music.  I will look repeatedly at the pictures and dream.  Listen to the words and think of “Joy To The World”, envision strolling through a “Winter Wonderland” and chase and play with “Frosty the Snowman”.  In quiet times sit back and think to yourself, “Mary Did You Know”.  Mary could in no way be aware we would celebrate her virgin birth of a child, born “Away In A Manger”, these two thousand years later.

May you enjoy all the pleasure and excitement associated with the season. May your stocking be filled with treasures and every face you meet is wearing a smile.  The season is short but wonderful, even without snow or snowmen.  Bad feelings can be put aside and good will prevail.

I sincerely hope grandma doesn’t get run over by a reindeer, because I’m married to her. Pop some popcorn and string it on the Christmas tree.  Do something old fashioned and experience the feeling it gives you.  Try making a homemade gift for the one you care about.  Please don’t give your fathers a new necktie.  The cook doesn’t need another Christmas apron the day after either.  And by the way, we can get underwear anytime of the year; it shouldn’t be a Christmas gift.

There is a much bigger reason for the season. Enjoy it.

The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley. We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved