I’m going to propose that we go off topic for this Sunday’s chat, the topic:

My Favorite Things: Christmas Edition

This was inspired by a post from Brant Hansen’ blog: http://branthansen.typepad.com/letters_from_kamp_krusty/

Brant’s post:

“My Favorite Things” 2009
“My Favorite Things” is a Christmas song that a) isn’t about Christmas, and b) makes no sense.  “White-collared ponies that melt in the spring…”—whatever.  I don’t get it.  “Doorbells and sleighbells and whiskers on strudel” or whatever.  It’s gross, even.

You’re welcome.

Jim’s Favorite Things: Christmas Edition (I’m going to cheat and pick more than one in many categories)

Traditional Carols - O Come, O Come Emanuel / What Child is This

Modern Christmas Music - Christmas Eve/Sarajevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Instrumental Christmas Music - Phil Keaggy and London Philharmonic Orchestra

Slap-You-In-Your-Face Challenging Christmas Song - The Rebel Jesus by Jackson Browne, especially as sung by Bebo Norman on his Christmas CD (Can you tell, I like music?)

Movie - A Christmas Carol (George C Scott version - from the 80s I think), although Miracle on 34th is a close second

Memory - All of my other categories tie in to memories, that’s why they are my favorites.  As a child, there was such wonder, mystery, and majesty in Christmas eve, especially night-time Christmas eve mass with the incense, the starry night, the organ, and the songs… in particular O Come, O Come Emanuel which was sung every year.  I’m recovering that sense of wonder and mystery in a new way now, and this memory is emotional for me.

Quote -  “Charlie, Christmas Eve may not be “gun day”.  Christmas may be “gun day”“ Spoken by my wife to our 3 year-old while driving to my parents on Christmas Eve.  Charlie, however, was certian that Christmas Eve should be “gun day” and we had a resulting bout of heartbroken tears and some rearranged presents after a U-turn to pick up some forgotten “food or something” at our house to take to my parents.

Treats - Shrimp dip, peanut butter bars… ooh, ooh… I know… those bacon-wrapped water chestnuts.  An aside: My wife once was preparing a recipe that said bacon was optional.  Get this… she was not planning to use the bacon.  Can you believe that?  I informed her that bacon is ALWAYS optional, even if it is not listed on the recipe at all.  If even hinted at in the recipe, it is mandatory.

Anything else?  Lets just talk about what is special to us this time of year and why.  See you in the chat room Sunday at 8:30pm.

If you can’t make it Sunday, let’s hear from you in the comments here:  what is special to you about this season?

This will be fun!  Looking forward to Sunday night!

I will look forward to Sunday night too (if we can make it).
But i was just thinking about my own favorite things: Christmas Edition.
I had to share that my Number One favorite Christmas thing is having a baby boy less than a week before Christmas nearly 16 years ago.  Something about that is very, very precious. You know, thinking of baby Jesus is very easy when you have your own precious newborn in your arms.

Of course, you know the rest of my favorites have to do with food, and I will save those for our chat.

I had my own precious baby boy 2 weeks before Christmas, 12 years ago.  It was so special, but the waterworks that year were outrageous!  I was a mess.

Funny…I had my first boy a week before Christmas too!  I loved being pg during the holiday season…felt so close to Mary, you know?

Jim - I agree about bacon. Josh even calls it ‘meat candy.’ I’ll save my memories for Sunday night…