This is a tinman ornament my Grandmother made me years and years ago. It's my oldest ornament. I also have the scarecrow, lion and dorothy.I had the most magical Christmases as a kid. I don't think it will ever be the same again.
I have been listening to the Holiday Light station and it is interesting to see what happens in my gut when specific songs come on the radio. Much of the newer recordings do nothing for me. But if I hear Andy Williams sing, “He'll Be Comin' Down The Chimney,” this far distant feeling of pure Christmas joy catches up to me from childhood. It runs after me as I drive in my car, hops into my heart. Suddenly I can see our old living room and the tree and the ornaments. I can see the red circle made out of construction paper that I taped to the nose of our mounted deer head. I can see the angels my Mom made out of old readers digest magazines.
I was driving the other day and the Harry Simeone Choir's recording of “The Little Drummer Boy” came on. It was the motherload. It took me so back to my childhood Christmases I almost had to pull over. I was suddenly five years old again, I almost didn't know how to drive. Ripples of memories came at me with each “brrrum, brrrum...” and the female voices tenderly singing the melody... pure magic. I am in the sunken living room of my Grandparents house. Everyone else is down in the basement partying, laughing. I am alone and sneaking through the house and taking it all in. This recording would have been playing on the radio. I can feel the white leather chairs, play with the thingie that spun around and had cigarettes in it. Play on the shag pop art carpet.
How on EARTH do you get all that back?