Watching the Christmas classics

It’s never really the holidays until you go back and watch those old Christmas specials and classics. You know the ones I’m talking - “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

The fact that all three of those movies were made in the 1960’s, and that people today are still watching them and falling in love with them, tells you just how well crafted the story is, but how cherished they are.

I think for me, the part I like is the fact that my dad would have watched those same cartoons too when I was a kid. It’s nice to have something in common, and while my father is no longer with us, we loved watching those movies together.

And when my niece was born, it was great to sit and share them with her and make new memories. What I love best about these movies is the songs, especially the songs from the “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Vince Guaraldi composed the soundtrack way back in 1965, and those songs are pretty classic and pretty timeless. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t immediately hear the piano playing and knows instantly where it is from.

My favorite piece from this movie is undoubtedly the song “Christmas Time is Here.” The children’s chorus for the song was provided by the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Choir of San Rafael, Calif.

Every time I hear those lyrics and hear the slow, jazzy tone of the piano it fills me with so much nostalgia. It reminds me of the Christmas mornings of my past, of tearing into presents and comparing what my brothers and sister got.

Sometimes we swapped presents, or at least made sure we shared with each other. My parents always made sure that, even if money was tight, there was still something about that day and that morning.

We’ve become overly obsessed as a society with goods and having expensive cars and big mansions and all the things money can buy. But a gift freely given is still a wonderful thing, especially if it comes from the heart. Those Christmas mornings are hazily recalled as I watch these old classic cartoons from mine and my father’s youth.

And as I hear those old songs from “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeeer” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas” it also reminds me of all those Christmas parties I celebrated in school.

Whenever I hear “Christmas Time Is Here” I’m instantly transported back to third or fourth or fifth grade. I remember the candy, the music, the games, like trying to pin a red nose on Rudolph while blindfolded, or trying to make the perfect snowflake to bring home to my mother.

Then there were all those decorations and ornaments we had to make. They always looked somewhat ragged, which is to be expected of a five or six year old. But I know my mother cherished them, and each Christmas she dutifully hangs those ugly eye-sores on the tree.

I laugh and joke with her that she should just throw them in a fire, and rid the world of those things, but she laughs and says when I brought those hand made ornaments home I was always so proud.

Times change, that’s for sure. But Christmas still comes every year. For many, last year was a hard holidays. It was done virtually, or not at all. COVID is still rearing its ugly head, and it may get worse before it gets better.

This year, people may still be doing that, but others may also be gather for the first time in a year.

And for at least one day, we set aside those earthly cares and rejoice in family, life and love. Those, of course, are always the most precious gifts. As the final chapters of 2021 are being written, it is with much gratitude that so many of my loved ones are still here.

I’ll be travelling north to see my family in Hayward, and it will be great to spend time with the people I care about. We might even watch those same classics again.

M USINGS AND G RUMBLINGS

ROSS PATTERMANN REPORTER