I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve experienced too much sadness and loss this holiday season. The death of a dear friend the day after Thanksgiving set a yuletide tone I’m having a hard time shaking. Add to that personal heartbreak all the general newsy effluvia – a new Covid variant, another school shooting, the white-noisy yada-yada-yada of our never-ending culture wars – and I’m feeling like one big ol’ Bah Humbug.

Even Night on the Town, an event I traditionally love, failed to snap me out of it. The night was pleasantly brisk and alight with holiday sparkle, I saw lots of friends I hadn’t seen in ages, I brazenly exchanged hugs with at least a dozen warm bodies, and still . . . no Christmas spirit.

Cue the Faith Hill: Where are you, Christmas? . . . Why can’t I find you? . . .

For the first half of my life, I could never understand those mopey people who feel sad around the holidays. But now, more often than not, I seem to be right there with them. I wrote on this page, a few years ago:

Maybe it’s just a middle age thing. Maybe it’s because I no longer have a small child in the house, because the losses are adding up, because the world is full of sorrow. Maybe it happens to everybody eventually, and maybe (hopefully) it’s not even permanent. I read recently that human happiness over a lifetime is shaped like a U. Perhaps I’m at the bottom of the U curve, poised to rise back up the other side?

All I know is that at some point over the past few seasons, the scales tipped and something inside me shifted. My long-held, cherished feelings of excitement, generosity and wonder were finally trumped – beat down, if you will – by the forces of commerce, commotion, excess and expectation. Somewhere along the line, the magic became . . . the motions.

But I am not ready to write off Christmas 2021. Not yet.

In an effort to cheer myself up – and maybe you, too – I decided to try my hand at writing a Christmas carol. Or rewriting one, rather. My focus? Things to celebrate and/or anticipate this holiday season. Some of the lyrics are personal, some will have local appeal, some are what you might call “universal,” and some are merely aspirational. The tune to which you must sing my little ditty will be obvious. And yes, reader, I expect you to sing. Hey, it’s Christmas! Why not?

Here goes . . .

On the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Second Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Third Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: FIVE COVINGTON CAKES! (Debbi’s, of course.) 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Sixth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . .  4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . . 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 8 Gullah Kinfolk, 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . . 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 9 Zuzu’s Petals, 8 Gullah Kinfolk, 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . .  4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 10 Spats Averted, 9 Zuzu’s Petals, 8 Gullah Kinfolk, 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . . 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 11 Slights Forgiven, 10 Spats Averted, 9 Zuzu’s Petals, 8 Gullah Kinfolk, 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . . 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 12 Lights Still Working, 11 Slights Forgiven, 10 Spats Averted, 9 Zuzu’s Petals, 8 Gullah Kinfolk, 7 Hallmark movies, 6 Harbormasters, FIVE COVINGTON CAKES . . . 4 Church Choirs, 3 Party Invites, 2 Lower State Champs, and a remake of West Side Stor-ee.

***

Tada! Wasn’t that fun? Don’t worry, I’m not quitting my day job.

I’m also happy to report that there are more than 12 lights still working on my Christmas tree, though, as so often happens, half a strand sputtered and died as I was stringing them through the holly bushes in the front yard.

But you know what? The holly berries are bright and beautiful. And our tree through the window is twinkly, and full of ornaments representing treasured memories and people – including the angel ornament gifted to me last Christmas by the beloved friend who died last week.

Some lights have gone out this year, as lights do, but there is still so much light. This Christmas season, I hope I can keep my eyes on it. I wish the same for you.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5

(P.S. I just checked Rotten Tomatoes, and Steven Speilberg’s remake of West Side Story is polling at 95%. See you at the movies!)