Once again a confluence of thoughts and memories has resulted in a musical connection being formed in my holiday-addled brain. I was stumbling through my musical library and came across a tune that instantly formed a mental image of my dad, not only because it was one of his favorites, but also because of the season, which inevitably stirs up family memories. The final catalyst though, was probably that I'd also been exposed to that movie being played continuously on TV — you know the one I mean, about little Ralphie and his Christmas memories?

I've always been a fan of Jean Shepherd's stories of his childhood in Middle America, even before they made the movie. His nostalgic humor was not only hilarious to read, but was also almost a perfect match for my own childhood. I suppose that's the point of nostalgic stories — triggering memories — but in my case the descriptions and events so closely match my own memories, it's uncanny. I had a little sister instead of a little brother like Ralphie, but otherwise I was Ralphie. I even had a Red Ryder BB gun. (And yes, my mother warned me it would put out my eye.)

One of the best parts of the stories (and the movie, which Shepherd narrated) was the obviously warm memories he had of his dad, AKA "the old man." Watching that movie inevitably makes me think of my own dad, who died over twenty years ago. I never used the "old man" nickname for him, although I understand how it can be used endearingly by some folks, but otherwise Jean's dad and mine were very much alike. I can't possibly list all the similarities, which include everything from him cussing our old coal furnace to how he would eagerly take us to get our Christmas tree, but his dad and mine could have been twins.