A Holiday Tradition

This is mostly for my brother, who may not have completely understood the voicemail message I just left him.

The sappy music station (the one that makes dedications at night...you know the one) in my city starts the Christmas music waaaaaaaay too early. They start the day after Halloween with All Christmas All The Time. I like my holidays one at a time, thank you very much. And would prefer that the music start at its proper time -- Right after Thanksgiving. Let me get through Thanksgiving and THEN I can start on Christmas.

And invariably, every single year, one of the first songs I hear is THE most vile thing ever put into production. It isn't just that it is country (which is bad enough), and it isn't just the sap. I think it is the complete suspension of disbelief one would have to have to even find the storyline vaguely plausible. I've shared with Bro just how much I cannot STAND the song and he gets a kick out of it.

Tonight I was flipping through my round of stations (I don't know why I include sappy station....Maybe for the ramdon Motown hit they throw in?) and came upon it....The one that makes me want to vomit.

My yearly tradition has become to call Bro upon first hearing, let him hear a bit, and leave a voice message that includes sounds of wretching. I think I just need someone to share the ear splitting agony with me. Tonight I caught it just at the last verse, and just as his voicemail beeped it ended. But I think he got the jist when I mentioned "those damn red shoes again!"

Just so as not to leave you all out of this lovely holiday custom, here are the lyrics. May you make it part of your own tradition!!

The Christmas Shoes
It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Repeat Chorus


My only question is if his mother happened to be named Dorothy Gale.

(Editorial Note: I just re-read the lyrics and realized -- It never says the shoes were red! It does call them "Christmas shoes" and Christmas shoes must be red, right? Maybe I just made them red in my head in order to hate it just a little bit more.................)

Missing Renee

It is funny. Tonight I am watching "Vanished". It comes on right after "Cold Case Files". I guess not ha-ha funny. But odd funny. The mother in the episode is Dee Wallace (Stone). The mother in Cujo.

I know her because her mother and family is friends with our friend, Renee. (pronounce - Ree-Nee.) Renee has recently been diagnosed with Alzehemiers Disease. We can see it changing her. I hate it.

Renee is AWESOME. She's kept her family going through the death of her young son, husband, and adult daughter. With only one son and her grandkids left. I love her more than anything. She's hysterical. She can entertain like no one else. And she'd do anything for you. She plans her time too closely, and ends up with too much, and leaves you wondering if she is always finding something better. But really? She's just trying to squeeze in the best life has to offer.

DeeDee is one of those she always squoze in. And Dee's child. And her, then, husband.

I met Dee once. She was very human and very comfortable to be around. I remember her sitting in sweat pants with her knees and feet pulled up under her.

So as I sit here and watch her on TV, I think:

Do you think about Renee as much as I do? Do you miss her as much? Does it make you as sad? Are you - That person on the TV screen - as human as I am sitting here?

I think the answers are yes. There's no one who wouldn't be sad our Renee is changing. It is just freaking sad..............