Poll | 12/24/2008 12:00 am

What Christmas carol says it all for you this year?

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The Christmas Song: you remember “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose …” Why? It brings back childhood to me, that kinder, simpler time when family traditions of that era long ago still have the meaning for me of my own family - parents, relatives, the pattern of happy traditions that were so individual to each family - and so wonderful! But I admit that this was the song played at Christmas dances — and the lights were dim, this song was played, and we danced with our first loves in those slow dances that you never wanted to end. This was one - and the memory of it has brought back a specific memory of a time, a place - and yes, a Saturday night dance and just who I was with when the song was played. And Nat King Cole sang it as he did all his songs . . . and you never wanted the evening to end. It was a winter to remember!

By joan larsen on 12/24/2008 12:22 am

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Nat King Cole: what a voice had he! Joan Larsen: did you make to Minneapolis for Christmas?

By James the Game on 12/25/2008 1:10 pm

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December 25 — clear day from Chicago, blue skies, white white snow that had fallen yesterday but the toll roads were absolutely clear, few people on the road to Minneapolis but we waved at each other as we went along - sometimes seeing people more than once — and we saw large herd of buffalo, deer, and then - as we approached the skyscrapers, the sky turns rosy pink and light purple in the west, like the world was right — and it was. Our Christmas - major - is on Saturday — so there will be more, lots more to tell as things are done up big here. OH- STANDING OUT FRONT IN THE SNOW WAS A FOUR FOOT HIGH PENGUIN LIT FROM THE INSIDE WITH RED SCARF — A BIG WELCOME. Well, you get the idea, James. Now you are sorry you asked.

By joan larsen on 12/25/2008 6:16 pm

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Not at all. Sounds fun. Was the airport closed in Minneapolis? Wondering why you flew to Chicago and then drove all the way to Minnesota? Yeah, roads were clean and clear today, first time in a couple weeks here. West Michigan got hit as hard as it has in 30 years over about a two-week period, with a series of blizzards and snowstorms. It took me two hours to shovel my way into the driveway one night last week, and an hour another time. But today was great, although very cloudy, as usual in West Michigan. The lake-effect clouds/snow are horrible here. A TV meteorologist put up a chart showing that on one day last July we had more sunshine after noon-time on that one day than we’ve had the entire month of December so far! It’s glorious weather here from about May 15 to October 1st in Michigan, perhaps the best in the country. But just terrible from November to April. Have fun on Saturday!

By James the Game on 12/25/2008 7:11 pm

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I LIVE in Chicago . . . and with a carload of presents - seriously big time - this is the only way to go. And the airport here must be open — but we will see if tomorrow brings something worse. More packages sent direct here so Friday will be wrapping time - and more, much more! My family went to college here and never never returned — understandable as this is the Midwest at its best and most beautiful. And the family proliferated . . and our house here also is beautiful, surrounded by small lakes, rolling hills, and when I tell you that my son’s living room has a 26-foot ceiling and he normally gets a church tree - so called - to get one that is the right dimension for the room After the holidays, he has to cut it in pieces with a chain saw IN the living room naturally as what caME IN IN A NETTING MUST COME OUT — a whole scene in itselF. Normally, after a late afternoon sumptious dinner we go to the Guthrie for a Broadway play — so all the growing children have experience with big time theater. We try to think of everything to enrich their lives now. Later, well, it can be a long time before money flows in as adults . . so then they can exist with memories. And yes! the wood is burned later so nothing is wasted. Think I will be off now for a few days — think of me — especially if you like to laugh a lot as this family does!

By joan larsen on 12/25/2008 8:35 pm

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For some reason, I was thinking you were in California

By James the Game on 12/25/2008 8:49 pm

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I spend time there every year — that is probably why you thought that. We travel a great deal but all over the world - and the country — but home base is my birthplace Chicago. But I do have to be at constant meetings so work around that a lot… and I am writing also for this or that — and that is in place of TV. I am going to be in NYTimes next week :-) - the fun things —- but eveverthing is fun for me.

By joan larsen on 12/25/2008 9:06 pm

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“Joy to the World” we finally elected a president with intelligence and integrity.

By Murnah H on 12/24/2008 1:21 am

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Okay to be smart? Meantime, I’m just trying to remind my adult children that they don’t have to include me in their difficult and dysfunctional and extended family plans……. So that would be wow and joy and hosanna and praise be and thank you and it ain’t the Waltons…and the sooner they get over it, the better…….. (Grumpy broads on line) Not grumpy or grouchy, really…..Just delighted that they are going to be just so busy …….three days i hope….can you just hum a little Gregorian when you need it?

By georgia fatwood on 12/24/2008 3:48 am