mary van milligen

It’s that time of year again.  All of our favorite Christmas films and songs own the airwaves.  My husband and his brother fondly recall all of the lines to A Christmas Story. I annually smile thinking of my own brothers forcing themselves to have soprano voice boxes as they screeched the “Sisters” song from White Christmas.  And anyone who knows me understands that I have particular Christmas carols that are musts.  Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” and the lyrics of “And so I’m offering this simple phrase, from kids from one to 92” still steals my heart, Sinatra’s perfectly tuned voice soothes my soul when I listen to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and the oddly matched but perfect harmonious pair of David Bowie and Bing Crosby performing “Little Drummer Boy” habitually gives me chills. These sounds ignite heartwarming instants of nostalgia for me; however…