Who slapped me with a happy stick?

It's often much easier to be jaded... especially since that's the fashion anymore. But gosh darn it, I'm not! I don't tire easily of something if once I've liked it. New is good, but old is just new again every time I experience it. So that even if I've heard a song 60 bajillian times, the 60 bajillian and first time is just as good (or better) than the first.

I say this because I'm listening to the same playlist that I've been playing all weekend... songs that I've heard so many times that I know how to mirror my breathing rhythms to the singers'. And despite the fact that these songs have been lasered into my memory umpteen times, and despite the fact that I personally created the playlist, I still (literally) clap my hands and squeal at just about every other song that plays. Because, yes, they just make me that happy. And although I shouldn't be surprised when any given song plays, it's always as if I'm discovering it for the first time.

Which brings me to Christmas music. When I walked into a store last week and heard the same cheesy holiday tunes blasted from every aisle, I gave the obligatory eye roll. But then I felt guilty... because although that response is programmed into me, it's not true. I love Christmas music. On my iPod, I have nearly 100 Christmas songs and 10 versions of "O Holy Night". (My favorite is by Vince Gill, from Breath of Heaven because it's pure and uncomplicated.) I listen to Christmas music all year long, any time my shuffle brings one up. And I can and will listen to the Mannheim Steamroller's "Carol of the Bells" and Tran-Siberian Orchestra's "Ukranian Bell Carol" for hours straight. Because I can. And will. And everything that the TSO puts out IS fantastic in any weather. What happened to the children we used to be who loved everything about the holidays? Who never got tired of Christmas decorations no matter how early they were put up? Simple pleasures, people. Simple pleasures! The perfect holiday doesn't exist, but the music still plays. And I will enjoy the enjoyable. Really, there is so much to enjoy...

Which also reminds me - Christmas lights and holiday yard decorations. Now, I for one am not a personal fan of gigantic plastic Santas on Harleys or yards so cluttered with cardboard elves and candy canes that you can't see grass... I'll be the first to admit that that stuff makes my eyes twitch. BUT! I refuse to Grinch somebody else's obvious holiday spirit, even by commenting to myself as I drive by. You'll hear me make a Joey-esque "Woah!" sound, but that's about it. Because ultimately, I give them kudos for still being able to enjoy the holiday spirit. And yes, even if all those decorations are up a week before Turkey Day. Ooh, and I will never ever ever ever ever ever ever tire of put-putting around miscellaneous neighborhoods to oooh and aaah the Christmas lights. Ever. You can take the tackiest yard decorations, slap some twinkles on them, wait for the sun to go down - and viola! Magic! Beauty! Because they are, to quote Legend of Drunken Master, "so spa-ko-we!"

So if you're out shopping and happen to see me beboppin' down the aisles, humming along with whatever holiday melody happens to be blasting, don't roll your eyes - join in! And then buy the ingredients for gingersnaps and give me a few the next day. I promise to love you forever! :D