Stoneman
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12/22/2011 6:53:07 PM
What Would The Holidays be Like Without Music
The other day my wife and I went shopping and I noticed something that I seem to notice every year. This time of year even the normally crabby people seem to change into wonderful friendly folks. For many years now I have been trying to understand what happens to everybody during the holidays. More importantly, why can't everyone be this way all the time? For me it is a great mystery. Yes, I know that there are the religious traditions that seem to spark a more friendly and giving attitude for some folks. But not everyone is religious or spiritual. So what is it that makes the usually selfish person suddenly willing to donate to the homeless shelter? Or what makes the usually stand offish neighbor suddenly wave at you? I also know that people are being reunited with family and friends and there are parties and celebrations everywhere. I am sure that these factors may have some bearing on the change of mood.
But this year I have focused in on another rather obvious possibility. The music! It is everywhere. In the stores, restaurants and even on the streets. I hear bells, chimes and corralling. The music is infectious and you can see people actually walking with a slight skip to the music. It kind of makes me wonder if we as musicians may have forgotten just how powerful this intricate form of communication is. Maybe if we wrote a lot more cheerful songs through out the year people would be more cheerful. Does that make sense to anyone but me? Probably not. But I can't help but wonder about that.
Some people call it the Christmas spirit. But not everybody celebrates Christmas yet they still seem to be infected with the love and care that gets passed around by so many people during this time of year. There is a guy that I pass by early in the morning every day when I am doing my walk through the Clayton trails. He never speaks and seldom even looks my way as we pass each other. I stopped speaking to him years ago as I felt foolish trying to be nice to someone who obviously didn't want to be bothered with my good vibrations. This morning as we passed each other he looked at me and then said.........wait for it..........Merry Christmas! I was so startled by it that I almost didn't reply. But I did reply and the next thing I know he stops and starts to talk to me about how lovely a morning it was. He even shook my hand and introduced himself. Then as he walked away I could hear him whistling "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" . Go Figure? I can't help but wonder if he will change back into the mean non-speaking guy when the holidays are all over.
I guess what I am trying to say is that music seems to be an integral part of this phenomenon of seasonally changed people. It is like a virus that passes through the ears and intoxicates people with friendliness, love and that trance like look of...... I don't know.....Could it be brotherhood? In a few weeks the mean checker at the market will be back to sneering at me as she tosses my food in the bag. The streets won't look festive and the sounds of the holidays will be all gone. Billions of people will be trudging back and forth all over the world without even looking at each other. Seems to me that the lack of cheerful music wakes them out of the holiday spell. Peace on earth gets replaced with "you kids get off my grass" and "I had my eye on the parking space first you inconsiderate idiot". Me? I will continue to wish that the infection could last 365 days a year. Maybe next year I will try to write a lot more cheerful and inspirational music. Got to have a dream. Right?
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Duane Flock
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12/23/2011 8:37:19 AM
---- Updated 12/23/2011 8:49:19 AM
I have my music and my wife Terri has a Santa collection of about 2,000 figurines, wat-nots, etc. So this is her time of year. She usually only displays a small portion each year and I act like the grinch digging them out and helping her set them up.
This year was different. During her travels, she ran into a lady that is the head of a womens club in our city. It seems that every year, for the past 50 plus years, this womens club picks out homes and businesses that go the extra mile with displays and decorations and puts them on a "Christmas Tour". People pay for a ticket and they visit each place on a map and the money goes to local schools and charity. Our house was picked for the tour this year. We started with the decorating around Thankgiving and finished the day before the tour. 300 ladies came strolling through our house within a 4-5 hour period. I was a greeter at the door and had a good time chating and saying thank-you for the great compliments on our display.
Terri had been collecting for more than 18 years. She calls it "saving Santa" because she rescues them from garage sales, hospice shops and the like.
I was extra nice to her and her project this year because we had previously made a deal. I got a very expensive piece of equipment for my birthday and Christmas combined and I wouldn't say a word, or make fun, or do anything to ruin her Christmas. But to tell you the truth, seeing her face and enjoying making people happy, I was actually proud of her and the collection. I even paid for a friend of mine who does photography on the side to come and take pictures.
We probably won't go all out like this again for some time, so we had friends, co-workers, and relatives come and see the display the following weekend. We have about 15 trees with Santa orniments, and 5 rooms set up with Santas figurines.
Terri had me play my Christmas tune I wrote for everyone.
A Christmas Tune
Merry Christmas from
The Flock Family
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Stoneman
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12/23/2011 3:13:48 PM
Yeah, sometimes I do also Chandra. But I will make an effort to write more cheerful stuff than I usually do. Not sure if it will work out that way though. It is very hard to dictate to the creative process. It is what it is........Have a blessed Holiday!
Duane,
Would love to see pictures of that. Let us know if you put any up on your page. Great story man. Also, enjoy that expensive piece of equipment! That was a great compromise as we men do love our toys! My wife and I only do internal decorations. You know, the tree and a few decorations around the house. For external its usually just a festive reef on the front door. Mainly because I don't want to climb a ladder or go up on the roof. Anyway, have a great holiday and lets try to get together sometime next year homey!
Much Respect,
Stoneman
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