Monday, December 01, 2008

Hold up, it’s December 1st already? This mean Christmas is only 24 days away.

I cannot believe 2008 is almost over.

Tiny white lights just went up on my street this weekend. If it stops raining this week, I’ll take some photos of the holiday booths in Piazza Navona.

It’s an understatement to say Christmas is my favorite holiday. Forgive me if I get a little sentimental in future posts. I will try to give a “sappy” alert or something.

Since my family was from the Caribbean, Thanksgiving wasn’t the “Big Holiday”. Sure we had turkey, went to the Verona High vs. Cedar Grove football game but it wasn’t the serious throw down that Christmas was. My mom was a nurse and had to pick which holidays to work. She had Christmas off…from the job that is. Poor woman. I don’t know how she managed to do all the things she did for Christmas. I get exhausted just thinking about trying to cook a meal like that.

This will be the first holiday I am not spending with my family in years and only the second time in my life this has happened. I know I need to get over it. My siblings are married, have families of their own and we live so far away from our parents.

I knew it was really Christmastime when my dad busted out his Nat King Cole and Mario Lanza (!?) Christmas albums. I think I will play those CDs later, along with Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and kick off the holiday season in my apartment. My sister tracked down the Lanza CD two years ago. I cracked up when I opened the package from Amazon.com. I don’t think many people under 70 are buying his CDs.

Below is a clip from a classic special.

20 comments:

Jen said...

I love the music, love the season. I'm not crazy about the emphasis on shopping.

My favorite time, despite my very bizarre religious background, was going to a lessons and carols service the night before.

I'm sorry you won't be with your family - that's hard.

Unknown said...

I know you're not making fun of Nat King Cole?!?! Best Christmas cd EVER! Go to my blog and check out some of my other falala-favorites. ;-)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

jen - luckily this year I won't have to hear or deal with that shopping frenzy. I love singing carols and hearing them too. I miss the fam...but at least there is Skype which helps.

Ms. Wooden Shoes. Oh course not! ha, my sister and I just thought it was funny our dad had that Mario Lanza Album.

Petulia said...

I love the Peanuts! Last year at work, we watched a Charlie Brown Christmas every day as a ritual during lunch break

Anonymous said...

Your posting of Charlie Brown makes me think of that hilarious video you posted where somebody put the kids up to . . .what was it Black-Eyed Peas??? That was awesome.

This makes me think, perhaps I should take advantage of YouTube to initiate my danged FOREIGNER husband to the rituals of Charlie Brown Christmas, Year Without a Santa Claus, etc. We can gather around the laptop screen in our immutably WHITE kitchen (no sofa as of yet) and watch the Christmas classics.

I'm sorry you'll be away from family. Me too, and I'm doing my best not to mope (which for me, is not very good).

I wish the rain would stop here, too. It's just not very seasonal!!!!

Happy December nyc/caribbean ragazza!! And I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we're perfectly happy to keep reading, sappy alerts and all!

Anonymous said...

I know, 24 days and counting. I'M SO EXCITED! Started my baking and decorating and of course shopping. Weeeee! The only music at my house now is Christmas music.

glamah16 said...

Yes its here. I see the snow outside and am baking up a storm. Forget shopping, just give me my family, warmth, and good food.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

No need to apologize for being sappy around the holidays...being away from family at this time is never easy, or at least not for me and this will be my sixth year :(

But Charlie Brown helps!

Texas Espresso said...

I know I can't believe its almost here either! It is my favorite time of year - I love the colors and music and festive lights! I am always the last one to take down my christmas decorations because things looks so plain once they are gone. sigh

Bring on the sap! its that time of year =)

squisItaly said...

I've been enjoying your flashback music choices for some time, BUT mention Donny Hathaway and I know you GOT it girl! Not only the best Christmas song, but one of the best of all time (and who else knows this?!?)

Anonymous said...

I love this time of year also! I am sorry you won't be able to spend time with your family. I am busy trying to find a semi-reasonable airline ticket to Florida so I can spend time with mine!!

Elizabeth Jones said...

Nat, Donny and Mario--they make me happy. But Charlie Brown? That kid was clinically depressed. I was always sad after watching his holiday specials--all of them. He really was the Charlie Browniest!

I wish I could see the twinkle lights.

Lenoxave said...

Sigh. Charlie Brown Christmas is

THE
BEST
THING
EVER

Anonymous said...

I love Charlie Brown. I think it is so cool that it still plays on TV every year. Christmas is my favorite time of the year also. I hope you find joy in Rome during the Christmas season. It is so hard being away from family.

Jessica said...

Oh we totally busted out the Christmas music already at my office. Internet radio is the best. For me it was the Johnny Mathis Christmas album, I must have listened to it a million times. And yes, the Peanuts rock, will be watching that (and hopefully the Grinch) later in December.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

petulia - The Peanuts rock. I had a Snoopy doll when I was little.

kimb - thanks. The mash up was to "Hey Ya" by Outkast.

joanne - I know of the feelings you speak of. :)

glamah16 - I might try to do some baking too. I hope it snows in Rome. (it happens very rarely)

michelle - grazie. It's such a big holiday in my family and I miss those traditions. You're CB does help.

texas espresso - the colors are great. more street decorations are going up here. yeah.

squisitaly - grazie. Chris Brown did a cover last year but nothing can touch the original. Mr. Hathaway is truly missed.

leahp - good luck finding a ticket and happy holidays.

Ms. Jones - you are too funny. He really was the Charlie Browniest.

sdg1844 - ha. yes it's up there with the Sound Of Music, the Heat Meister (sp), The Nutcracker and The Grinch (the cartoon) for TV programs we watched every year.

girasoli - thank you. While I'm away from my family, at least I'm in a place that has some holiday spirit so that's exciting.

jessica - I've heard that album. I really want to find the CB Christmas Album. It's excellent.

gibber said...

I have the Charlie Brown xmas CD too...it's great. My rotation is Nat King Cole, Charlie Brown, Swing into Xmas, Mariah, and Mario Lanza!!

oh sis, I'll miss you this year too. I really wish we could all go to St. Martin this year, but it's just not gonna happen.

I do look forward to watching the sound of music (with Christopher Plummer's fine self) and the grinch. *sigh*. Christmas just isn't the same since we haven't all been together. If I could find a cheap ticket to Rome, I'd fly out in a heartbeat! I could sleep on your floor! hehehe

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

gibber - you know I love the Mariah CD. I still crack up when I think about the original video with Tommy playing Santa Claus.

While I don't miss the darn wild roosters up in the hills waking us up at 5:30 in the morning, a certain Aunt acting stank because she thinks we are favoring another Aunt (ha!) I will miss all or us being together.

I wish I had money and a house in the country. I could fly everyone here. I'd have to be rich because I know how much certain folks hate flying coach. Ahem.

Anonymous said...

"Christmas Time is Here" is my absolute favorite Christmas song, it's so beautiful and peaceful. I always get quiet and smile to myself whenever I hear this song.
I'm so grateful to be on in the same state as and on the same continent as my family this year. As much as I travel who knows if I'll be "home" next year or the year after that.
I'm saying a very Merry Christmas to you and celebrate with those that you cherish and who cherish you, no matter where you are.

Ciao Bella!

Felicia
This Time Now
www.thistimenow.wordpress.com

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

felicia - grazie mille. Happy Holidays to you as well.