Blog 2935 – 11.12.2023

Three Blind Nice & John Jacob Jingeheimer Schmidt

With today’s two children’s songs, I conclude A Children’s Treasury of Songs, but there are literally hundreds of other songs for children.

About this time of year I recall that when I was a little boy the teachers always had us sing a song in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday which was in those days the official start of the Christmas holiday season. It began, “Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.”

For much of my boyhood, grandmother, we called her Lily, lived either next door or across the street, so our journey to see her was a matter of a few steps did not require getting in the car let alone a horse driven buggy or sleigh. I do have pieces of a memory before I started school of my grandparents living in a large house on the outskirts of Chattanooga that was a long drive, probably not even thirty minutes, but for a small child that seemed like quite an journey and always quite an adventure. What I mostly remember is the smell of burning leaves that people back then raked in to piles and burned to be rid off. It was a lovely smell, almost as nice as that of cakes, pies, and cookies baking in Grandma Lily’s kitchen.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and always has been. With barely a month till Christmas and less than a week more till New Year’s Day it is a time to share with family, friends, and even strangers all that we have to be thankful for.

Most of the family and friends that I knew as a boy have gone on but the memories, the sights, the sounds, and the smells of holidays past still linger. I know that the holidays for some are sad times for they focus on the losses and not the gifts. I like the little song that says: “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings.”

To quote the Apostle Paul’s advice on the subject: “If there is anything good, anything lovely…think on these things.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vPB8vGOtQDMmfHFvRJwL_BoYb6rKrrc8/view?usp=drivesdk

Three Blind Mice & John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, from White Christmas (1954)

Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, from White Christmas (1954)