Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
‘Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home*
Every time I hear that song I am transported back in time to the days of yore. Transported back to the days of my mother happily preparing for the holidays, bedecked in a Christmas apron, decorating the house in her usual flair and baking all sorts of cookies and sweet treats. As far as I was concerned, my mother, Leah, was the star on the top of our Christmas tree; her jolly presence set the house ‘aglow’.
She was creative, made everything from ‘scratch’, from the life size Santa, reindeer and carolers, which she cut from plywood, hand painted and strategically placed on the front lawn, complete with carols singing out of speakers and the house covered in lights, to the snowball cookies lovingly baked and hand rolled in confectionary sugar. My mother was a big kid at heart and made every holiday a special one. She found joy by filling other people’s lives with joy.
Many of you are most likely reminiscing yourselves – conjuring up meaningful memories of your own days of yore. You’re thinking about that someone special who gave your holidays that cherished feeling simply by being who they were and doing what they enjoyed doing. They took the time to add that extra touch, or go that extra mile, all in the name of love and happiness.
My mother influenced me from a very young age and she continues to influence me to this day. This Christmas marks her 21st in spirit. Though I can never go back to the ‘home’ I recall so bitter sweetly, when I ‘hear’ my mother singing “There’s no place like home for the holidays”, I am but a thought away from being home in my heart.
I close my eyes, get lost in my thoughts (with sugar plums dancing in my head) and I am transported back to the days when we were all together, loving one another and filled with sweet anticipation. Back to the days when my mother was full of life, joy and had a lilt to her step.
There is no place like home for the holidays, and no matter how far away your roam, if you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face, close your eyes and allow yourself to drift back in time. Remember the good old days and know for the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
* “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” is a popular song, commonly associated with the Christmas and holiday season. The music was composed by Robert Allen, while the lyrics were written by Al Stillman. The song was published in 1954. The best-known recordings were made by Perry Como.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_for_the_Holidays_(song)