The World of Bohemedude

A Few of My Favorite Things

I'm not ashamed to say that I love Christmas! In fact, I'm somewhat of a Christmas junkie. You'll never hear me complaining about the stores putting out their Christmas wares in October. For me, this is such a magically wonderful time that it seems almost shameful to not let it last a bit longer. Sadly, few of my friends share my sentiments. I might classify a few as bona fide "humbugs." I know some of these folks don't have happy memories of the holidays, and they associate Christmas with family drama and dysfunction. I guess a bit of "Scrooginess" may be justified under such circumstances.

I'm fortunate to have wonderful memories of Christmas. I am sure that some of my childhood Christmases held their share of disappointment when I didn't receive everything that was on my Christmas list . Nevertheless, as an adult, I realize that gift-exchanges aren't all that important and that this season has a whole lot more to offer than colorful wrapping paper and bows.

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the music. I don't know how many times I've sung "O Come All Ye Faithful" in my 38 years of life, and I still get goosebumps at the beginning of Midnight Mass when the choir and congregation begin singing "Adeste Fidelis." At various times of my life, I have been more or less "religious" depending entirely on my life circumstances of the moment. It's funny that even during those periods in my life when I have truly lacked faith or questioned the existence of God, I have still found myself in church on Christmas eve. Perhaps the spirit of Christmas is more powerful than any or our doubts.

Christmas is truly a time for believing... It's a time to believe in Santa Claus... To believe in Peace on Earth... And to believe in the power of love. It's a time when our hearts are called home, maybe not the home of our childhood, but to anyplace where we are surrounded by those who love us best. The holidays are a time for celebrating all of our favorite things. This season you'll find me enjoying a few of my favorite things:

Christmas Music: A Christmas Album--Amy Grant... The Gift--Jim Brickman... Wintersong--Sarah McLachlan... The Animals' Christmas--Art Garfunkle and Amy Grant... The Christmas Song--Nat King Cole...A Christmas Album--Barbra Streisand

Christmas Reading: A Christmas Memory--Truman Capote... The Best Christmas Pageant Ever--Barbara Robinson... A Christmas Carol--Charles Dickens... The Gift of the Magi--O.Henry... A Visit form Saint Nicholas--Clement C. Moore

Tastes of Christmas: Eggnog, warm apple cider with cinnamon, popcorn balls, fudge, sugar cookies, candy canes, chocolate, marzipan

Christmas TV: A Charlie Brown Christmas... Miracle on 34th Street... Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer... It's a Wonderful Life... The Little Drummer Boy...

Happy Holidays!!!