ass over teakettle...which reminds me

This is Mama Mag's comin' atcha after a fall on the ice while out for a run yesterday. Yep, 'tis the season for twisted rotator cuffs and broken hips. No need to worry as I thankfully missed my noodle and landed on nature's own airbag; otherwise my body wouldn't have been found until Spring. Unfortunately, for you guys though, my yapper and keyboard are no worse for wear...and after applying a soothing balm of Advil, Ferrero Rocher and Korbel, I have sat my sore derriere down to plunk away at more holiday ramblings on this fine, brisk evening.

It's that time of year again when jingle bells ring and Christmas music wafts across our decked halls...and what can I say? I'm a sucker for a holiday tune. After reading my buddy, Tom's, blog of his fave holiday songs, I have decided to sort of steal that idea and have a little fun and list my own. The girls are beginning to dig on all the seasonal tuneage this year, and surprisingly, my oldest is memorizing some of the lyrics of a few of the more challenging ones. Wow...pretty impressive, my rug rat (you can hear her pipes on my Sites and Sounds page).

So here goes...a Buddhist's Top Ten Christmas Songs...in no particular order (except for the first one which will always be my numero uno).

1) I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas- Bing Crosby
Besides this movie, White Christmas, being in my Top 20, it is also part of the Mag movie holiday tradition, thanks to my hubby's obsession with it and his sweet introduction of it to me during our first Christmas together, oh, so many years ago. This is a cherished part of our Christmas Day tradition (along with Scrooge, #6) over popcorn, leftovers and coffee. Where do I begin with my Bing....his perfectly silky vibrato is heaven to me. The shot of him singing to the troops, the look on their faces and the bombs bursting in the background breaks my heart every time. My prayers go out to the real soldiers and not to the movie ones that are away from their loved ones at a time when most of us are able to hold our children close and make precious memories with those we cherish. The thought of all those empty chairs around the holiday dinner table saddens me profoundly and I pray wholeheartedly that this nonsense will stop. I'll shut my pie-hole now or this may turn into the Top Ten Politicians Whose Arse I'd Like To Wallop With Santa's Boot.
2) Hallelujah-
I have never had the ability to fly but I do when I hear this classic. It fills my heart and sends me soaring. Whether it's performed by the Mormon Tabernacle, Royal Philharmonic or that little boy's choir who've all been castrated. One of my accomplished pals just got his PHD in music and can now conduct orchestras. I can't even imagine at how superbly blissful it must be..front and center on that stand..saturated in all of that amazing sound.
3) Once As I Remember-
The quiet poetry of this melody is just lovely. Reflective, almost haunting..in a merry holiday kind of way.
4) Charlie Brown's "Christmas Time Is Here"-
You can't leave this one off the list. Peanuts was the best. This one is from Mama's childhood back in the early 1900's. Well, not that long ago, but I grew up with this sweet little ditty and hold it near and dear. Aw...Snoopy skating around, dragging Charlie by the scarf and swinging him into trees. Ouch.
5) Counting My Blessings-
Another White Christmas classic...the smooth voice of ole Rosemary, cozied up by the fireplace, eating a liverwurst with Bing. I wish my life was this movie..all singing, dancing, flowing outfits, smiles and snow...minus the liverwurst. But I am serious when I say that I am most fortunate to have so many of my own to count this holiday season.
6) Bless Us All-
This little gem is from The Muppets-A Christmas Carole. This flick was a sweet one. Paul Williams composed this number where Tiny Tim and his 1/2 pig, 1/2 frog family share a special Christmas moment together. Michael Caine, one of my fave actors, leads up this puppet extravaganza. He's actually wonderful in it as he is in every movie he does. You know you're good when you can find the truth in every moment while acting with a wad of stuffing and some dude lying at your feet. Yep, I guess, its official. I am just a big ole mush ball when a singing amphibian can make me misty.
7) Barbara Allen-
This is actually an old Scottish folk song...but it happens to be on a soundtrack of another Mag family holiday movie must see -Scrooge w/ Alastair Sim. Don't even get me going on him. He should have won the Oscar that year as well as well as Mervyn John for his humble, sweet, poignant performance as Bob Cratchitt. Those two pros together give this actor girl another shot of holiday sock and buskin inspiration. Near the end of the film, after Ebenezer has learned the error of his ways, there is the scene where he finally visits his nephew and wife after a lifetime of absence during their Christmas gathering. He slowly enters the room, his redemption evident by the sincerity and tenderness in his eyes, an underlying vulnerability of someone asking for forgiveness...it just slays me. But again, I must stop with all this acting stuff..this entry is about the music! Focus Mama.
8) The Little Drummer Boy-
Aw...I love this Carole. The sincerity, purity of heart & faith and innocence of youth is a calm, reflective kind of thing to ponder and serve as an example for all of us crusty adults during the holiday and all year around. This little guy offered up not only his music but the beloved sticks he used to make it with. In Buddhism, we have a sort of similar version. where a child presents a mud pie to Shayamuni Buddha.
9) We're A Couple Of Misfits-
This is from the weird minds of Bass and Rankin...the duo's claymation creation of Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hey, when I was a tot, these guys reigned supreme. Nowadays, these kids have to have their fancy-dancy Pixar stuff with all kinds of special effects and nose picking ogre humor. My hubby gripes every year when I insist on including this in our jingle-bell repertoire. I not only told him to get over his humbugish self but I went out and bought us our very own copy! So now we can watch it whenever we want during the holiday hey-day instead of waiting for it to air on T.V. The girls love it. I actually know of another person, one of my dear friends actually, who is a fully grown adult man who worships this stop-motion piece of merriment as much as me. However, I will spare him any humiliation by refraining to expose his identity here on The Daily Mag. Speaking of outing..er, I mean, speaking of my beloved little Hermie...he will always remain my favorite gay dentist and hold a special place in my heart. And that goes for his little song, too. I've always considered myself a bit of a misfit and I am rather diligent about dental hygiene, so the two of us have a lot in common. Besides, what with all the amputation, tangled Barbie hair and missing eyeballs that happen at the hands of my T. when it comes to all of her toys....it's the least I can do for those blessed, deformed misfit playthings that live on that sad little island of theirs.
9) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- James Taylor
What can I say? This man's music is like a big, cushy hug. Always comforting, always welcome and, hey, this guy plays guitar chords that take all five fingers on his left hand, for God's sake! Its soft jazzy overtones make this a ticker warmer and I just love it.
10) You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch- from Seuss' The Grinch That Stole Christmas. "Your brain is full of spiders, there's garlic in your soul...termites in your smile". Well, come on. Coupled with Karloff's brilliant voice over, and Ravenscroft singing, ya just gotta love this smarmy, smirky green guy. He is waaaay better than that other green oaf that has the million dollar donkey for his buddy. Plus, now that I have two of my very own Cindy Lous looking up at me from under the tree...well, I think it's evident that this old gal's heart has grown three sizes at least.

Yes, all this musical saccharine may come as a surprise to some of you that know me, what with all my John Lee Hooker..sad, mournful Blues type of thang that I dig on but as I have said before, I am a woman of many layers. And thank goodness, I have a rather thick one on my bum or I may have been spending the holidays with a broken arm.