You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear voices singing
He’s standing in the kitchen surrounded by the blur of the dinner he made and served. He’s a little grumpy; we’re all a little grumpy because everyone’s been sick. Four of the kids have strep; we missed the big piano recital yesterday; the guy who was supposed to pick up a large piece of furniture we’re giving away hasn’t called back and the thing is parked in the middle of our living room and I can’t put the tree up until it’s gone. That kind of week.
And because I’ve been the grumpiest of all, and because he made this dinner I’m about to eat, I slam into him on purpose, throw my arms around him, rock side to side in a parody of dancing.
“Are you trying to Rock-Around-the-Christmas-Tree me?” he asks suspiciously, and I gasp.
“What?” laughs the sixteen-year-old.
“I think your mother is mocking me.”
“No!” It wasn’t an ironic gasp. It’s not like I’d hummed out loud to the music in my head. “I was Holly-Jolly-Christmasing you. I can’t believe you could TELL.”
“Well, technically—”
“No, no, seriously. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Holly Jolly Christmas lie within a very narrow margin of error. How did you know??”
It no longer surprises me when he knows exactly what I’m thinking, but now he’s hearing the department-store holiday soundtrack in my brain. Spooky.
Jeanne says:
And that, my friends, is a Wonder Full Life.
On December 15, 2011 at 7:27 pm
sarah says:
Awww. You guys have the best story.
On December 15, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Penny says:
Awesome. The good parts I mean. I hope you can put up your tree soon, and I want you to know that I will be humming those two tunes interchangeably for the next 3 days. A very seasonal kind of poison, in it’s way.
I hope the kids are feeling better – strep is such a mean illness.
On December 16, 2011 at 5:37 am
tanita says:
Our big Christmas show is this weekend, and I am feeling fortunate that we’re singing NEITHER of those songs, or I would have to laugh out loud and imagine the two of you.
Oh, I’ve been feeling the grumpy. But I know there’s a silly dance in here somewhere…
On December 16, 2011 at 8:10 am
scott (the other one) says:
“a parody of dancing” = “every other time we’ve ever tried to dance.”
We have our strengths. Dancing is not one of them.
On December 16, 2011 at 2:39 pm