Warmth.

There is something about this time of year that brings comfort. I am not sure if it's the holidays, the anticipation of the holidays with family, or climbing into a warm bed when you come in from the cold. I think it's a combination of all 3.

Every year there are 2 commercials and 2 songs that have become, in my mind, symbols of the holiday season. The 2 commercials are for beverages: One is for a beer the other for coffee---and the two songs come from "The Boss" and a Carpenter. (Not the Jewish one.)

You may have been able to guess one of the songs, but the commercials are a bit tougher. The first commercial is from Miller Brewing. It's to the tune of "I'll be home for Christmas" and is as warm and cozy as you it can get. It still plays on network TV even though it was produced and aired over 30 years ago. The other is for Folgers coffee, it's when the son comes home from college and makes a cup of coffee---very unrealistic in our household, but I assume it does play out in other areas of the U.S. (By the way, Folgers was a leading brand at one point---this was before Starbuck's took over.)

Now that Christmas music plays 24/7 on selected radio stations, you hear "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Bruce Springsteen and "Merry Christmas Darling" by the Carpenters frequently throughout the day. Two songs from my formative years that always let me know we have entered the holiday season. For those who are wondering how far back in the record vault you must travel to know when these songs became part of our holiday history---Springsteen recorded his song on September 20, 1978 in NJ, and the Carpenters back in 1970. Wow, it's hard to believe that song is almost 40 years old!

For me the holidays are part of tradition; sure I realize it's about gift giving for Chanukah and Christmas, but it's also a time when people gather and celebrate the season. We then move on to diets and up here in the northern U.S. the "can't wait" feeling for spring.

The photo above was taken about a mile from my folk's house. It's an area where they have a butterfly greenhouse---with real flying butterflies---and houses and barns that were transfered from other areas around Missouri. This barn is very old, but still has it's beauty. The glow is not a light switched on, unless you consider the sun to be a light you can switch on and off. It's actually the sunset shining into the barn. I always liked this picture because it's very inviting and warm. Not a bad feeling to have any time of the year.

Thanks for stopping by.