December 20, 2020
The soundtrack of my Christmas memories as a child was largely provided by one Christmas record. This record was by a group you might have heard of, 101 Strings, and was called “Christmas Moods.” At that time, this record became part of my family Christmas memories. It was given as a promotional “gift” with a gas station fill-up. (Now I am happy to get gas a few cents a gallon cheaper once in a while.)
The other trappings of my childhood Christmas memories are long gone. They either wore out while in active use. Or they were lost when my parents parted ways, just after I graduated from college. Even this original recording was lost with the rest of the family records. But the memories are still there; how hearing it played heralded the start of each Christmas season. My sister made sure of it. The second the last of the Thanksgiving feast was put away, Christmas began. It started when she played this record for the first time of the season.
Over the years, my siblings managed to replace it. My sister found a copy of the record at a garage sale. My brother found a re-release compact disc version. The producers had added a few other songs to fill out the CD’s length. I took that CD version and made copies for us that included only the memories of the original recording. It sounds just like the original release. It does not have the skip that developed from our LP. The LP was played numerous times. The record player we used was a bit sketchy in terms of quality.
I never had kids myself. However, I am sure this recording would have been part of their memories as well. I had no children. Still, hearing this recording triggers memories of being a kid at Christmas for me. I might explore other childhood memories related to different subjects in these writings. However, my memories of Christmas are pretty good. And they can be summoned by playing this record that provided the backdrop of our holiday family gatherings.
I had the idea of writing a piece for this blog about my Christmas memories during the night. I was awake and couldn’t sleep. The piece I wrote in my head then was perfect, as things usually are in memories. When I later tried to write it down, I just could not get it right. It was all too much to keep straight. Listening to this music now, I realize that the most important part of my Christmas memories came from it. The music is still there. The memories are still there.
To the friends I know are out there, and those readers I do not know;
Have a Merry Christmas!
And may you all find the link to those memories you cherish the most, at any time of the year.
Memory is the Key 