Have you ever had one of those mornings where you'd rather not get out of bed? I woke up like that today. Nothing earth shaking. Just a low feeling of malaise. A temporary depressive state. And given the current events in the world, it's not all that surprising.
On days when I get that feeling, I use certain activities to shake myself out of the blues. Like dancing to online zumba classes. Or clapping my hands and jumping up and down. (Try it...it works.) Today, I made the mistake of going online and reading about the crazy happenings with our southern neighbors. It was too much.
Fortunately, I went out to meet some friends at the Orange Toad, for tea. Sitting at a table next to other people in your community is relaxing. I don't know about men, but women need each other's company. It's like free heart medication. I pictured myself lying on the floor of the coffee shop, barely able to lift my head, and Meghan, the owner, helping me up and saying, 'Here's your mint tea!' (I order the same thing every time. I'm very ritualistic...it's an ADD thing.)
I felt much better when I left her place. Next, my friend Lois and I strolled over to the Red Apple, one of those 'we sell bar fridges and the cheapest sheets in the world' kind of stores. I was scanning the shelves for stocking stuffers when a Christmas song came on. Except in this one, nobody was wishing us a holly, jolly Christmas. Nobody was rockin' round the Christmas tree, or walking in a winter wonderland. Instead, the lyrics went like this:
Please Daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas
I don't wanna see my Mamma cry
Please Daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas
I don't wanna see my Mamma cry
I put back the shiny ornament I held in my hand and stared at a woman standing near by. 'Can you believe this song?' she asked me.
The person singing might as well have been saying, 'Everything's bad. Lose all hope. Forget about Christmas.' Alan Jackson was the singer, but when I googled it, I discovered that John Denver wrote it!
Look, folks. It's bad enough that 'He Who Shall Not Be Named,' won the US election. It's disturbing enough that I have to hear about it every single day, whenever I turn on my computer or listen to the news. But depressing Christmas music?
Whatever happend to 'Grandma got run over by a reindeer? That one's funny, and the tune is catchy. 'Please Daddy' sounds like a funeral dirge, only daddy's not dead, he's just drunk as a skunk. And momma is sad.
Perhaps the music channel wanted to make a statment. Maybe, like me, they find Hallmark movies depressing with their constant cheer and excessive decorating. But let there be some middle ground! A happy medium, where someone is having a hard day but then they meet friends for tea and everyone cheers up.
Yes, John Lennon sang 'War is Over if You Want It' while depressing news played in the background. But that was the early seventies when people believed that anything was possible. Elvis sang 'Blue Christmas,' but listening to it didn't make you feel sad. It had you thinking, 'Get over here, buddy. I'll cheer you up in no time.'
But this song is an affront to Christmas. I'm someone who celebrates traditionally, with church on Christmas Eve and the singing of old fashioned carols like O Holy Night. But I embrace the other stuff, too. Like, Holly Jolly Christmas, and Jingle Bells and Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer. The classics.
John Denver wrote Rocky Moutain High, and Annie's song. He's the guy who sang, ''You fill up my senses.' He's not supposed to be the 'You're killing your liver,' guy.
I'm sure this song came from someplace real. And maybe it resonates with those who had a hard time while growing up. But please don't play this song in stores. We need Andy Williams and Michael Buble, and the Muppets. In these tough mental and emotional times (thanks for that, US Republicans) we need a pick me up, not a 'bring me down.' Now excuse me while I go watch Will Ferrell in 'Elf.' And let me end this blog by paraphrasing a line from that movie by addressing everyone's favourite, relaxing hangout. To the Orange Toad staff - 'congratulations on making the best mint tea in the world!'
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