I like to tell myself that my tears are a form of appreciation for having had such a wonderful and influential figure in my life. Christmas music brings me joy and allows me to grieve all at once. While the season is typically known to be merry and bright, it’s OK to feel sad. I play them because they remind me of some of the happiest memories I have, and to just experience those feelings again, even if only for a split second, makes it all worth it.ĭuring the holidays, there seems to be the notion that you must be happy all of the time. My roommate asks me why I play Christmas songs all the time, but it is not just because I like them. Regardless of the time of year, I have Bublé’s Christmasrecord on repeat. ![]() Since that is what he wanted for me, I have no problem listening to heartwarming holiday sounds all year round. I’ve found that listening to Bublé makes me happy and allows me to feel connected to my grandfather in a way that is special and unique to just us. It sounds easy, but it’s quite difficult to not let the judgment from others impact how you live your life. I learned many lessons from him during his time on earth, but the most valuable was to do what makes you happy. I felt my grandfather’s warmth and spirit right beside me like it was just a year ago. No matter how many Hallmark movies and sugar cookies I ate, nothing helped to bring back his jolly spirit that I missed so much. It didn’t feel like Christmas because he was the spirit of the season in my eyes. I could not fathom that my grandfather was no longer around, and that I wouldn’t have another Christmas with him. The new tradition we hoped to start was cut short when he passed away at the age of 77 from Parkinson’s Disease on Thanksgiving the following year. He was usually the one to do the gift giving but not this time. Since he had recently purchased a record player, I figured this would be the perfect gift. In 2016, I was at Urban Outfitters and spotted a vinyl of Michael Bublé’s Christmas album and knew I had to get it for my grandfather. ![]() There was never a dull moment at Christmastime when my grandfather was around. This only describes a fraction of the work he did in preparation for his favorite day of the year. When he wasn’t decorating, he was at the local homeless shelter giving gifts to the children and singing Christmas carols. He loved seeing the looks of awe on children’s faces as they watched inflatable Santa and his reindeer soar over the roof of my house. ![]() (Plus, he loved cookies.) Every December you could catch him outside putting up Christmas decorations for the whole neighborhood. If you ask me, he was better than Santa-jolly, happy and full of cheer all year round. No, I’m not talking about Santa Claus, but my grandfather, Moe. Picture an old man with hair as white as snow.
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