“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”
so goes the popular song that comes over the airways this time of year. Decorations are up on many residences as well as the Main Street area down town and
other business locations. The Living
Windows presentations by the Peppersauce Players was another smash hit this
year. Looks like (hopefully) this will
continue to be an attraction for community residents and visitors for many
years to come. A big thanks to
Fredericka and all the participants for a job well done. Susan had a good article in her “Not So Long
Ago” column week before last about Christmases of days gone by. She interviewed members of several area
churches in preparing her article. I
remember a Christmas party at the old church about seventy years ago. Actually the party was at the American Legion
building next door. We played games and
bobbed for apples in a number 2 wash tub.
The highlight of the evening was a debate between the high school
superintendent, Mr. Rollo, and Mr. Cheney, both church members. Their subject was “Is there really a Santa
Claus?” The fun part was how the two
debaters had to work to not reveal any important details to the youngsters
present which might result in upsetting their parents. I don’t know if I described this well enough
but maybe you get the idea. The OFC had
their Christmas party a few days ago. We
only have six members now since Darrell, a charter member, died last year. During this meeting we voted that the last
survivor would pop a can of Dr. Pepper and toast those who have gone to their
reward. I think that would be a very
fitting tribute. Speaking of songs,
there is a new one being played this year that I have a little trouble with. The name is something like “Just say Merry
Christmas.” Kind of a cute little ditty
with a catchy tune. Lyrics suggest that if you are out shopping and you don’t see “Merry Christmas” in the store
window, you don’t “go in.” Plus, if you
happen to be in a store and you don’t hear “Merry Christmas” you “walk right
out the door.” Like I said, I have a
little trouble with this. I wonder what
Jesus would do? Again, speaking of
songs, some of you long-time Rambling readers may remember that at one time I
was working on a Christmas song. I keep
putting it aside (a family trait), fully intending to have it ready for the
season. Looks like it won’t happen this
year; maybe by December, 2015. Of
course, as I have explained before, it can’t be just any song. It has to be the best Christmas song ever. I remember a song that was written by Steve
Goodman back in the seventies that he represented as the most perfect
country/western composition ever created.
One of his friends, David Allan Coe, challenged him on this statement,
informing him that it wasn’t perfect because it didn’t contain certain words
that should be in a real CW song; words like “mama,” “prison,” “pickup truck”
and, of course, “trains.” Goodman wrote
another verse to the song and sent it to Coe who, after reading it, realized
that his friend had written the perfect country & western song and that he
felt obliged to include it in his next album.
The song, “You Never Even Call Me By My Name,” has been a two-stepper
favorite at VFW dances since Coe recorded it in 1975. You may not believe this, but I thought of
this song when I was trying to decide what special words I should include in my
Christmas song in order to make it perfect.
The list I have started includes “star,” “stable,” “baby” and “angels,”
but I think I should add a few others in order to make the song more enduring
to the listeners, whoever they may be. I
am considering some secular words and phrases such as “peanuts roasting on an
open fire” or “I’m hoping for a White Christmas” but this is still a work in
progress. Like I say, maybe next
year. I have ruled out “trains” as one
of the words even though a train actually does have a Christmas relation to
Calico Rock residents. Way back in the
fifties, Santa (Dr. Copp) was welcomed by a huge crowd of youngsters when he
arrived on the noon train on Christmas Eve, a tradition that lasted for many
years. I wish all you dedicated readers
a very, Merry Christmas. Make lots of
good resolutions because the next time I see you will be New Year’s Day, 2015
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