AMEND CORNER: The best part of Christmas is the music and joy

Posted 12/22/15

Consequently, Christmas music has been the only music heard at our house since December began. Fortunately, there is considerable variety in our personal jukebox so we don’t overdose on the same old songs before the week is over. Even when the …

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AMEND CORNER: The best part of Christmas is the music and joy

Posted

I’ve often said that the best part of Christmas is music.

Consequently, Christmas music has been the only music heard at our house since December began. Fortunately, there is considerable variety in our personal jukebox so we don’t overdose on the same old songs before the week is over. Even when the same song pops up again, a different singer is singing it, and it may be sung as a spiritual or a soft jazz number. That’s a good thing, because even “Silent Night” can get old when you hear Bing Crosby’s old original version for the third or fourth time in an afternoon.

Unfortunately, these days Christmas music leaves me a little blue at times, thanks to my medical adventures in recent years. My voice is undependable these days, and even when it is working, I can’t generate enough breath support to hold a note or produce volume greater than a low hum. Moreover, there are gaps in my voice that often prevent me from hitting certain notes, so as a result, I can’t belt out “Joy to the World” the way I once did.

Still, given all that has happened to me, I can’t complain. I consider myself fortunate, because I could be in much worse shape than I am, even if I do croak when I try to sing.

In fact, I was almost glad to have this disability last week at the Tribune Christmas party.  After reading my last column, a couple of people hinted that I should sing “If I Were a Rich Man” during the festivities. I could honestly say that I couldn’t oblige because I can’t sing, and besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate. “If I Were a Rich Man” isn’t a Christmas song.

I have a few more days to listen to Christmas music, and in a few days, there will be a couple of grandkids to sing them with me. They like to sing, so that will be fun. For Christmas Eve, I’ll play all my favorite carols and will listen for the angels to sing them for me while I ponder the first Christmas gift.

May you all have a joyful Christmas and a pleasant and peaceful holiday season.

Shalom.

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