Waltzing into the holiday season in slightly-trepidatious fashion, I’m slow to embrace the happiness and cheer that is supposed to be instantly upon us. Life just isn’t as easy and fun as it once seemed to be. Maybe I see things more clearly, maybe we’re all just getting older, or maybe I’ve been worn down by all of it – whatever the case, this is a languid little dance to get the heart moving again. It’s been my favorite Christmas song for the last few years, starting with its masterful employment in this magical ‘Mad Men’ scene.
Easing into the end of the calendar year is always fraught with heightened emotions and drama. Despite its supposed meaning, Christmas somehow brings out the worst in us, and I’ve been no exception. Most years I just want to get it all over with as soon as possible – give me the glorious mundane expanse of a barren January, when all the fake cheer and forced camaraderie have frozen back into their rightful form of non-existence.
And yet at some point in all the Christmas bombast, I usually manage to find some small jewel of a moment that rings true to the spirit of the season – at least what the true spirit should be – and for this I hold out hope. Sometimes it’s in a song like this, or an unexpected visit from a friend, or the simple realization that we are all still so lucky…
