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Sunday, December 26, 2010

'Twas the Night After Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas albums (now converted to a CD because who has a turntable anymore?) is by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and it was one of the annual albums put out by Firestone. I think my parents got these free each year when they put snow tires on. Speaking of which, remember the days when people still put snow tires on in the winter? (We still do that out here and they're actually on more months of the year than our summer tires. But I digress)

So, back to Fred Waring from Firestone.

Side 1 is the "fun" side and has great versions of Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The last song is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (in fact, it's the name of the album), but it has a little add-on that always made me a little melancholy when I would hear it because it kind of sums up the end of Christmas. When you're a kid, you aren't about the anticipation of Christmas (not like now, when I'm old. Er.). You just want Christmas to GET HERE NOW.

So the add-on to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on the Fred Waring album goes like this:

'Twas the night after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The presents are scattered and broken I fear, and St. Nicholas won't come again for a year.

The children are nestled all snug in their wee little beds, while memories of sugar plums dance in their wee little heads.

Mama in her kerchief, papa in his cap, are settled at last, for a long winter's nap.


We actually had a great day after Christmas. We had discussed going skiing, but when this morning rolled around, I felt very unmotivated. It wouldn't have been hard at all to convince me to stay home.

Fortunately, Eamonn was more motivated and we had a great day out in the fresh air--which we badly needed!

Finn had his first day with poles (you don't typically ski with poles until you reach a certain level) so he was pretty excited. Or so it seemed when I was following him down the mountain with his WOOOO HOOOOs flying over his shoulder.

I could be mistaken.





Now I'm bingeing on leftovers and watching White Christmas.

Again.

3 comments:

Sheila said...

I have that album, and several from other years. My favorite one, though, is an Osmond Brothers album (with Andy Williams) from before Donny was old enough to sing with them. Great harmonies coming out of four little kids. I still remember sitting by the Christmas tree with my portable record player listening to those and eating ribbon candy. I just hope my kids have Christmas memories like I have, not just ones of a stressed-out bitchy mom!

The Professional Bag Lady said...

Cracked me up... you know we will have to meet at some point because we have more in common than most... Not only do we share a 'fondness' for Andy Williams... I remember driving from one brand name tire store to another every Christmas with my Dad... He (my dad) was actually related via marriage to the Fred Waring, of Pennsylvanian fame... My Dad's uncle lived in State College and was a cousin of Waring's...and somewhere around here I believe we have numerous old vinyl records of theirs.

Happy Holidays... and tell Finn I'm so happy he has 'graduated' to using poles. I remember the days we gave kids poles in ski school - it was kind of "A Christmas Story" kind of day - "Careful or you'll poke your eye out with those things".

Take care... enjoy the holidays.
Sherrill

M said...

Merry Christmas!!
Happy New Year!

I feel like I am in CO it's so cold here...if it rained right now it would be snow :) fat chance tho...