My late mother was a Christmas-oloic. She lived for the holidays and played Christmas music constantly. During high school and college, I worked retail in a shoe store selling ladies shoes. The money was good and the opportunity to meet girls was even better. During that time, the Christmas music was constant. Any fondness or addiction to Christmas music was rooted out and destroyed during my years in the Army. That was okay, and I never missed it. In fact, I rolled my eyes whenever I heard any Christmas music.

Recently, I was caught outside during bad weather. The nearest shelter happened to be an old-fashioned movie theater, playing old-fashioned movies. Waiting for the bad weather to pass, I watched part of that 1946 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Later in a different store, I heard background Christmas music. It made me smile and feel the warm memories of “Christmas-past”.

I’m back and glad to be back!