As the years pass me by and Christmas comes along again, I remember all the beautiful holiday times with my dad. I feel his presence around me even more during this time of year. I love that my husband and I can share stories of him with our boys, as they do ask about him often. Just this evening as we decorated our tree, I reminisced with them about those memories that have had an everlasting impact on my life and even on my parenting style. We listened to carols as we decorated and a few of my dad’s favorites came on that made my Christmas vision with him even more clear.
Here are 3 Christmas Carols that remind me of my dad.
Nat King Cole’s Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
I remember sitting next to my father in our dark chocolate, deep dish (as I thought of it) couch. As he sat with his legs lifted from a long day of working two jobs, I would snuggle up next to him. This tune played on the record player as he hummed and sang along a bit. The smell of grease came off of his shirt as his scent as he sipped his cup of coquito and embraced the season. There was no place I would rather be as a little girl than next to my dad. Now at my age I still envision this scenario in my mind every time I hear the carol.
Frank Sinatra’s Jingle Bells
This was a happy upbeat song that my dad absolutely loved. He referred to Sinatra as “old blue eyes” as if he knew him personally. I remember him helping us decorate the tree and being silly as he listened to this tune coming from the record player. It was a great sight to see my dad really getting into the spirit. He really enjoyed the holiday season and watching the excitement it brought us.
Andy Williams It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
It truly was the most wonderful time of the year. A time that my father really looked forward to and enjoyed. He was never one to expect anything from anyone. He was a GIVER. He LOVED to give my mother lovely pieces of jewelry like gold charm bracelets and anything he thought she wanted. He also loved and watched in amazement as we opened our gifts. He once said that he gave us so much during Christmas because he was raised poor and didn’t receive many gifts. What he didn’t have, he wanted to give to us and he felt proud that he could do that.
This Christmas, like every Christmas that has passed for sixteen years since his passing, brings me great comfort knowing that I have these Christmas carols, the memories and the fact that my husband and I have so many stories to tell to our boys about my dad. He is actually much closer to us than we think, I’m sure. It’s amazing that beautiful carols like these can help tell a story, create and share a memory, and bring memories of holidays that you had with a dear loved one back to life.
Care to share: Are there any Christmas carols that remind you of someone special?
You have beautiful memories of your precious dad celebrating the holidays. He loved his family so much! I never grew up with Christmas carols in my home, but I always had the Christmas spirit since I was a child. I enjoyed decorating our live Christmas tree, watering the tree, and watching in amazement the colorful blinking lights on our tree. The foods my mom and grandma prepared for Christmas created the best holiday memories for me.
Now, as an adult, I decorate our home for the holidays to share the Christmas spirit with my mom. Mom, like your dad, grew up with limited resources, so I like to create a happy holiday environment for mom to enjoy. Happy Holidays to you and your precious family, Eileen!! 🙂