Christmas Eve 2011

I adore Luther Vandross' version of this classic. And again, I realize how much I miss Luther's voice. My guess is nothing can out sing the angels of Heaven's Choir!
On this day before the Reason for the Season dawns, I think about Christmas Eves past. I posted this on Christmas Eve 2009. My thoughts have not so much changed--except I know how much more I am truly am blessed.

2 More Days....

Ahh. Just a little more Luther
Such an angel
Heard on high....

LUTHER VANDROSS (HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS)

So nice to bask in some Luther-
Such a voice. Such a gift.
I realize how much I miss me some Luther.
Only saw him in concert once.
About six months before he suffered his stroke.
On this chilly night I toast a
Cup of hot chocolate (with marshmellows)
Right now and thank God for the gift that
Was and still is Luther!

Gotta Be Finally Friday

And it is! A week of change, especially today. See, today was my last day in my current position at the company I toll for. A month ago, two hundred of us found out we were losing our jobs, due to them being moved to Tennessee. In the the next breath, our management announced we still had jobs, just in a different area. Only we didn't have a say on which one of the two job openings, we were gonna get. Kinda like a box of chocolates, except the piece was already decided for us.

In my case, I got the job I wanted. In fact, I'd applied at another company, for the same position. Unfortunately, I had one piece of the puzzle, but not all of it. Now, I'll get trained in all pieces. Might be a slight raise involved--MIGHT--since they are was on different pay scale than us. So this new adventure starts Monday and I am excited! It's a good change--a very, GOOD change.

Which couples with my first week as being a student at University of Phoenix. I'll be in debt until I'm 175. S'ok. My area of study is all online. My advisors mean well, yet they call all the time--to make sure everything is OK. I'm in the midst of to get my routine down. Not as bad as I thought--so far. And I've already asked how long do I have to be there to be one one of those "I Am A Phoenix" commercials. Stay tuned.

And then my junior high art teacher found me on Facebook. Art Teacher remembered how uncomfortable I was, in class, and apologized. I liked her, I said, but it was the class I dreaded. I couldn't draw, paint or do a straight line with a ruler-plus I got a C for the class. I fretted for the longest to show my parents my report card because of it. The "C" didn't look that good among the all "A"s and one "Be"....at least I thought. Nobody would EVER confuse me with Picasso! Art Teacher got a kick out of it.

In all that, change has happened. All good I feel. So because it's Friday, I gotta cue up a song by Change, from the early 80's: Lover's Holiday, with back up singer the late great Luther Vandross! Good stuff never does die...Happy Friday!

Friday Feel

And really, is there anymore to be said? End of the week. Closer to Christmas.

And my thoughts of the late, great Luther Vandross version of O Come All Ye Faithful.

Heard this first in 1996

Gave me chills

And still does.

We miss you, Luther.

And the Heavenly Choir just is bit more heavenly with you in it---

December Kinda Like

Christmas.

The temp is at freezing. No snow. Some folks have lights on their homes. Alas, I don't. Though I smile at the memory of Dad stringing up the lights. And the years of our flocked turquoise Christmas trees. Trust me it worked!

So since it's almost Christmas and I'm thrilled it's Friday too boot--I will cue up one my favorite songs by the late, great Luther Vandross. My eyes still mist up as Luther tell me about Christmas Time. Wonderful, wonderful song.

Reminds me how much I miss Luther.

Christmas Eve Part 1

and I smile.

Through life's valleys there is peace. Joy. To understand the Reason for the Season. Yes, I do so miss being with my parents on this Day Before. The hustle bustle of last minute gift wraps.Decisions of what cookies to munch on and which ones to leave out for Santa and his 8 tiny reindeer. In later years to just enjoy being with my Dad, look at the twinkling lights on our tree, and still munch on cookies.

So on this Night Before this Birthday Like No Other, I'm being a bit more selfish than usual, so please indulge me as I post my utmost favorite Christmas songs. Hallelujah for YouTube! And ALWAYS remember how blessed YOU are.
And I smile.

Whitney Houston back when it was all hers:

Luther Vandross who still touches me:

Nat King Cole doing my all time favorite:

Tis the Season

Listen to Luther Vandross sing O Come All Ye Faithful.

This version, of a true Christmas classic, makes you realize how much Luther is missed.

Just try and deny there is no Spirit up in here.

You understand the true reason for the season.

Then smile because God's choir has a star brighter than no other.

Missing....

Luther Vandross. While writing today, I popped in one of his DVDs.
I teared up.
Luther was in Dallas about six months before a stroke eventually robbed us of a great gift. This was the first song, on Dionne's album, that I first paid attention to Luther.

I paid attention from then on.