Christmas Morning, Sights & Sounds

I woke up hoping for snow. It is much too warm this Christmas. Still, I looked through the blinds to see if there was any white at all. Not a chance. Even the snow on the ground had melted. But there was a thick, white-grey fog on rooftops, treetops and over the field behind the house. So what if we didn't get a white Christmas in 2005, the fog is pretty impressive.
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I discovered the film "A Christmas Story" a few years ago. I suppose Comedy Central was running it as a counter-response to this standard. Since then, this film has become my holiday staple. It's wistful, quirky, funny and not sugary at all. Perfect film for a Christmas morning.
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UPenn's radio station WXPN has been playing non-stop in the living room since last evening. Wine tastes so much better with music like Nat King Cole Trio's "All I want for Christmas (is my two front teeth)", pianist George Winston playing a stunning version of Doors' "Crystal Ship", Flaming Lips, Neil Young doing "Imagine" and a spoken-word bebop Christmas song.
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If I had to pick a favorite Christmas song, it would be John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". War is over, if you want it. Those are very hopeful words.
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Any festive occasion can be elevated by playing Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World". I wish the WXPN DJ would find his copy of Satchmo reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".
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The local Barnes & Noble is running a terrific book-gifting drive for disadvantaged children. You pick up these little name-tag-like cards that contain a kid's name, age (and gender). The idea is to buy a book suitable for that child and gift it. Barnes & Noble then delivers the book to the children. What can be greater than a 3 year-old or a 5 year-old receiving a book? Like Jack Black's character says in "School of Rock", a great rock concert can change the world. Well, a great book can blow a little child's mind and change the world.
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Jeff Buckley's singing "Hallelujah". The song always makes me want to stop and listen to the lyrics again. There must be a secret chord.
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And so we reach the last 6 days of 2005. So fast? Merry Christmas.