The Holidays Are Here.....(Well, Almost!)

Well, the weather out there might not be frightful (yet), but it’s shaping up to be the most delightful time of the year – at least for me.

Yeah, you know it! It’s Christmas time!

There’s something about the time of year from the middle of November until December 25 that turns me into a child again. Some have accused me of going too crazy over the holidays, and they might be right. You know what I say to them?

Bahh, Humbug – you old scrooge!

Ever since I can remember, the last six weeks of the year are my favorite time of the year. Kicking off with “Santa Train,” an event I cover each year in the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia – and running until Santa Claus has made his rounds, I love it. Lights, food, gifts, the whole nine yards.

One of my first memories actually revolves around a trip to see Santa at Two Rivers Mall in Clarksville. I don’t remember how old I was, but I want to say it was 1977 – because I seem to associate hearing “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone in the mall that year. (If you’re wondering if every event in my life has a musical tie, well yes….it does!) Whether it be school Christmas parties, Thanksgiving celebrations at my cousins’ house in Centerville (little did I know I would wind up living there), or Black Friday, I love everything about this time of year.

On the topic of Black Friday, that has been my favorite day of the year since I was sixteen. My brother and I would go out at the crack of dawn and hit all the stores. I know there’s a lot of people out there, and I know some of them can get a little cranky or crazy at times – wanting that $20 DVD player that Walmart only has ten units of. But, it’s the most fun day of the year to people watch, and the bargains – particularly at Belk = aren’t that bad. I think he and I went out on Black Friday every year from 1991 until the past couple. His living in Louisiana kind of limits things a bit, but those memories are some of the most treasured I have of the holidays. This year, I’m going out with my son. We haven’t done a game plan yet – he’s a little bit new to the Black Friday game to understand there is a method to the madness – but I guarantee it’s going to be a day worth remembering.

Yes…..does that make me one who commercializes the season? I guess I would have to say guilty. But, I look at it different. Being able to go out and buy presents for people throughout the year – which I can admit I go overboard with – is my way of celebrating my blessings – work, health, and (for the most part) happiness, as well as the greatest gift of all – Jesus. (Which, if you’re one who hates the commercialism of the season, a reminder….you should be celebrating that on Feb. or Jul. 25 as well as December)

Of course, there’s the decorations of the season. I will admit, I don’t do this quite as much as I used to. A divorce and moving from here to there have scattered many of my older decorations to the wind….though I do have a Santa Claus ornament that was made in 1942, the year my mother was born. The tree isn’t as big as I would like, as space and a pair of two nosy cats that can’t leave things alone have taken care of that. But, I did buy a JR Ewing ornament this year from Hallmark. So, I’m starting over!

Then, there’s the music and the television specials. Music-wise, you could have Elvis Presley’s Christmas album and Kenny and Dolly’s Once Upon A Christmas playing on repeat, and I would be happy. But, this year, there are some great ones – particularly Reba’s, Garth and Trisha’s, and Brett Eldredge. And, I spend a good amount of time watching The Waltons and Little House On The Prairie holiday shows this time of year. Of course, I have to watch The Homecoming, the 1971 film that begat The Waltons and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Those are high on my list as well.

Speaking of lists, what’s on mine, you ask? (I know, you didn’t…..but that’s what writers call a subtle hint). Music-wise, I’m well taken care of, though Ernest Tubb Gift Certificates are great, Dana Perino’s new book about her dog Jasper is on my short list, Dallas Cowboys anything, and an iPod would be nice this year. But, this year…..I want that little speck of magic dust. I want this holiday season to be the best one ever-  for everyone. There’s too much fight and not enough right with the world. It would be nice if everyone would cool it for awhile! It would be nice if that little bit of magic dust included someone special, but that’s a Hallmark movie – and I don’t see me as a character in one of those…..but you can dream, right?

In any case, the holidays are upon us. So, however you celebrate, I hope you have a great season – Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas! Let the holidays commence!

To The Next Level!

This week, I have to admit, there has been some doom and gloom in my outlook on life – more of the Winnie The Pooh / Charlie Brown type than real despair. I will spare you the details, as unless you know me….you have no idea. Let’s just say something happened – or didn’t happen – this week that I got my nose out of joint about. But, it’s not anything you will know about  - unless I tell you. And, to be honest, there are people with a lot bigger problems than that, so there.

But, it did make me aware of one thing. In 2017, I want to take my career to the next level – whatever that is. My health, which has always been a hinderance, is actually in as good of a spot as it’s been in years. My feet will never be like new, but almost everything else is in a good spot. If I can stay away from Chinese restaurants, I’d be even better. There is one minor issue that I still have going on, but my doctor says I just need to watch it – and drink more water. So, I’m trying to limit myself to one soft drink a day. Not fun. Someone once joked that I would enter the pearly gates with a Pepsi Max in my hand. That’s probably not far from the truth.

But, hopefully without that holding me back, I can work even harder and more than 2016. Sometimes I wonder how that can be. My goal is to average an article somewhere each day. I’ve done that – and then some. That’s even with six weeks in the hospital and a rehab facility, though I did several interviews from my room at NHC. I may not be the best, the loudest, or the funniest……but I will work as hard as anyone, and I think that shows.

My question – and I ask for anyone who does this journalism thing for a living – is, how do I get to that next level? I am not as funny as ______. I’m not as charismatic or witty as ________. I’m not as brassy as ________. LOL….I know the names, and each of them are my friends. We all have different personalities. I just hate the fact that I am so much of an introvert. After an event, I would much rather stop at Denny’s in Fairview and write about it, then go to one of the swanky parties, walk around the various food tables and feel alone. I’m not a snob or even shy, really. Put me in a group of two or three that I’m close with, and I’m a general smart-ass. And proud of it. Still, there are days that I wish I could toss a one-liner out at the drop of a hat, know more about The Walking Dead to fit in, or be more assertive. But, I think up snappy comebacks twenty minutes after the fact, can tell you what rerun of The Waltons aired the night before, and get quiet in crowds.

At the end of the day, I got some great advice from a great friend of mine who is a publicist in town. It came down to two words – Be yourself. So, that’s what I am stuck with. But, I have been blessed in 2016 to be able to work more than ever. I want that to continue. I don’t know anything else. There’s not a relationship in my life. It’s what makes me tick.

So, whether it be an artist bio, profile, album review, you name it, if you’re looking for a pen for hire in 2017, call me. And it doesn’t have to be about music per se. Some of my most enjoyable work has been the newspaper work I’ve done for The Dickson Herald, or The News Courier in Alma, Georgia. All is good in my world, but I just want to expand. It’s all I know, and I just want do more of it – and take it to the “next level,” wherever that is. Wish me luck!