Holiday music

Right now, I’m listening Michael Buble (holiday) radio station on Pandora.com and I can’t stop grinning. There’s just something about holiday music that sets the perfect mood for me. It brightens my spirit and lightens my heart. I’m more forgiving when “The Christmas Waltz” is playing in the background. I don’t mind those little snotty comments that come from family quite so much when Nat King Cole is softly crooning nearby. I even laugh at the old sibling insults that used to bother me so much…(well, they might still sting a little). But they’re more tolerable with the dreamy voice of Sinatra smoothing things over.

In fact, I’ve come to the conclusion that Christmas music was made for that very purpose. Driving to Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family, I could feel my heart pounding in my neck and my throat closing. I knew exactly what would happen. I knew that there would be that awkwardness between my father and I, since we only see each other twice a year and neither of us really know each other. I knew there would be a comment said by my younger half-sister that would make me want to say something when I should simply bite my tongue. I knew I needed to be convincing when I lied sweetly about something absurd.

But like a fix I needed before I walked through the door, I kept the radio tuned to holiday music. And after listening for a few minutes, I was ready to face all my family with a smile. And in the end, it wasn’t so bad. I survived another Thanksgiving.

Now, Christmas at my mom’s house will be another story.

Until then…