Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

We four girls lived in a little blue house just off campus.  We enjoyed scheming together for surprise parties, dressing up for Murder Mysteries, swing dancing at the Cactus Moon and giggling about the most recent antics of our cats, Sugar and Spice.  Sweet, sweet friends.

One year around Christmas time, we decided to draw names and fill our stockings secret-Santa style.  It would be fun ... and cheap.  Seeing as we were all a little stretched thin in the currency department, this would allow us each to spoil on another without breaking the bank.  We each drew a name out of a bag and started shopping around for fun and silly stocking stuffers.

On one of the last nights before winter break, we piled into the rec room with our stockings over-flowing and celebrated Christmas together.

I had filled my roommate's stocking in the same fashion that Santa had always filled mine and I was excited to see her unwrap her goodies.  Today I don't really remember what was at the top of Debbie's stocking.  I imagine I gave her a pair of silly socks, maybe some fruity lip balm and perhaps a notepad and glittery pen.  I probably also included some candy and maybe a toothbrush or some good smelling lotion.  She ooh'ed and aah'ed as she unwrapped each little package.  Then she got really excited as she saw that there was one more something in the toe of her stocking.  It was kind of heavy and about the size of an orange.

"What could be in there?", she giggled, reaching her arm into the stocking.

A curious look came over her face as she withdrew her hand and her last present.

"It's an orange," she stated matter-of-factly, with a mixture of disappointment and puzzlement.

"Yep," I said, feeling just a little bit silly, "We always get an orange in our stocking.  You know, an orange."

Silence for just a second ... and then we all started laughing.

Apparently Santa only left fruit at the Nadel's house!

I still laugh about that ... the surprise and confusion about how that pesky piece of fruit made it's way into her stocking and my disbelief that my family was the only recipient of fruit with a few nuts tossed in for good measure!

Those three ladies are still such wonderful dear friends.  Even though we are scattered across the state and across the country, I know that if we were all plopped in the same room together, we would start up right were we left off.  With plenty of laughter as we reminisce about that little blue house and as we share about the craziness of life today.

That is one of those miracles of friendship, especially if you share the common bond of faith in Jesus - years can go by between visits and yet the closeness and harmony does not age or fade.

Which brings me to my song for today's Musical Count-Down to Christmas, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".  There are about a hundred different renditions of this Holiday carol, but my personal favorite would have to be the lovely duet between John Denver and Rowlf the Dog.  Click here for a listen.


Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas


Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of Yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now


Music composed by Hugh Martin, lyrics by Ralph Blane

As I think back on that night of sitting and laughing about fruit, sharing the traditions of our families and celebrating Jesus' birth, the third verse stands out to me with startling clarity.  These friends (and the many other friends who have crossed my path) are dear to me and I know that as we each continue to live the lives that God has mapped out for us, we will continue to celebrate Jesus together, share our lives with one another when we have the chance... and laugh about the silliness of life, be it kids or fruit!
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Prompt #4 ~ Share a story from your college years.