Mountain Musings with Uncle Mott

Last Christmas

This week marks the anniversary of the arrival of three beautiful orange and white kittens that me and the Missus adopted from a neighbor last Christmas. We only wanted one fluffy orange and white kitty, but the neighbor insisted we take all three “because they’re bonded.”
Unfortunately, we’re down to just two kitties, since Ginger disappeared a few months ago. But it’s true, they’re definitely bonded because Freckles and Albert play together, chase one another, sleep curled up with one another on our bed and they are constantly grooming one another.
We will be celebrating the first birthday of these now rambunctious teenage boys in a few days. And when I say they’re rambunctious, I’m talkin’ about raging hormones. Anyway, that’s probably more than you need to know.
Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special. Once bitten and twice shy I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye. Tell me baby, do you recognize me? Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me. (“Last Christmas” – Wham – 1984)
Well, it’s once again time for my annual list of the top 10 Christmas songs of all time, so here we go: At #10 we have “Holly Jolly Christmas” – Burl Ives – 1965…sorry Burl, maybe you’ll do better next year; #9, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams – 1963; at #8 we have “Felice Navidad” by Jose Feliciano – 1970…Gee, I’m beginning to sound like Casey Kasem, host of America’s Top 40 countdown, which you can still hear on Sirius Radio’s 70s on 7 channel on Saturday afternoon.
Back to the Christmas countdown: In 7th place we have “Last Christmas” recorded by Wham – 1984; #6 is “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms – 1970; #5 is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey – 1994. Coming in at #4 is “Christmas/Baby Please Come Home” by Darlene Love – 1963; at #3 we have “Winter Wonderland” by Johnny Mathis – 1958. At #2 and dropping a notch from last year is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders – 1986, which was # 1 in last year’s countdown.
And the suspense is building… are you ready for the # 1 Christmas song of all time? Ta, da, da, da, dah!… “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole – 1946. Ahh, I can hear it now… Chipmunk’s roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost knocking at your…Hey, wait a durned tootin’ minute, that’s not how it goes. Someone, please hand me the correct lyric sheet… Thank you, Whew!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos…And so I’m offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninety-two. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU !”
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott