Highs and Lows of Christmas

These are a few of my least favorite things and also favorite things regarding Christmas.

To end well, lets begin with least favorite things.

• Song wise, ironically, yes "These are a Few of My Favorite Things" is one of my least favorite songs.
• Add to that, "Little Drummer Boy". Not historically accurate, and if you were going to serenade a newborn baby, are drums really the best choice? Also drums do not make a brum-bum-bum-bum sound.
• While we're at it, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Jingle Bell Rock" also make the list.
• People that don't take down their lights ever. I can live with this. I just don't think its right.
• The Hallmark Channel.
• Early Christmas displays in stores. I have compromised my morals in recent years. It previously was not ok until December first. Then Thanksgiving. Now I'm even accepting of November first. But before that is really unacceptable. And why do they do it. People must be buying the stuff then. Take a stand people.
• Taking down Christmas decorations. I know I just said they need to be taken down. I stand by that. It is a sad time, though.
• Old Christmas specials. Rudolph, Charlie Brown. Yes, you were great in your day, but maybe its time to let them go.
• I miss Christmas specials by old-timers, though. Rerun them. Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, etc. They all had Christmas specials. I don't want to see A Rap Christmas with Dr. Funk. Substitute those old claymation specials with those classic singing specials.

OK, enough. What do I like about Christmas?

• Big Christmas trees - Like the ones in Rockefeller Center and outside the White House.
• "Step Into Christmas" by Elton John. Best recent Christmas song.
• "Away in the Manger". Best traditional Christmas song. At least the melody. The words are somewhat problematic. Saying the baby didn't cry is implying crying would have been sinful, so he didn't. And "the cattle are lowing"? They do that?
• Christmas trees that are on when you first wake up.
• An excuse to play people like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole without being made fun of.
• Houses with big Christmas displays. I'm not doing it, but I like others to do it, so I can see it.
• The glut of fun movies that come out at Christmas time.
• I'm starting to run out, but I need to have as many likes as dislikes. How about guilt-free candy? It's not totally guilt-free, but close enough.
• When Sunday is Christmas day and so you can do a Christmas Eve service and then start Christmas day going to church.

So this year I'm going to try to focus on the second list and ignore the first.