It was 1963 when singer Andy Williams first shared his view that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

Why is that you ask?

Andy croons:

… With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year

It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call …

And not just that. The holiday season is filled with parties, carols, ghost stories, mistletoe — and best of all, everyone will be happy.

Listen for yourself.

More thoughts after the song …

Holidays can never live up to all the hype, and yet …

December holidays were and are still a wonderful time of year, especially for children.

I remember:
– Special foods, usually sweets, and baking cookies with the kids next door.

– A tree in the living room. Now, that was different. You can find my memories of that strange sight here.

• Under the tree there was what seemed like a mountain presents.
• I didn’t have to go to school

As an adult, I find some loss of holiday luster.

• No matter how much I measure, the wrapping paper seldom fits correctly.
• Even worse, I’m never sure the gift is right. It could be the wrong size. Or the wrong concept entirely. That happens more than I’d like.
• My efforts to bake cookies result in burned bottoms.
• The tree isn’t straight.
• The house isn’t clean enough for company.
• I wish the kids were still little, home from school, and high on sugar.

Yes, I admit it. I have “Grinch” proclivities. But …

Wait. Stop. Turn away from the chaos and remember the reason we have winter holidays.

I shall take my own advice and put my feet back on the path to serenity.

• Children and most guests don’t notice if the tree is straight – and if it falls over, they’ll probably help put it back.
• Gifts are about love, not perfect wrapping.
• I kinda like burned cookie bottoms.
• I don’t have to go to school.

And if you put enough rum in the fruitcake, Andy Williams sounds like Pavarotti .

Acknowledgments:
Featured Image: 1950s style Christmas Tree from Sky Meadows State Park, Mt. Bleak House. By 2012skymeadowschristmas14. Creative Commons Attribution. Wikimedia Commons.

Metro Lyrics. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by George Wyle & Eddie Pola. from the 1963 Andy Williams Christmas Album.

Illustrations:
Three children hanging stockings. 1870. Christmas tree with presents by Teterrifictc. And Gingerbread people in the Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. The cookie tray by Gandydancer and the Wrapped presents by Geschenkhamster.de are Creative Commons Attribution. Wikimedia Commons.

Musings About Perfect Holidays.

Sabrina Beasley McDonald. “How to have a perfect Christmas.” Family Life.

Dani Bostick. “Holiday Perfection is Overrated.” ESME.

Lindsay Holmes. “5 Ways to let go of Perfection at the Holidays.” Huffington Post. Nov 27, 2013

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