One of my fondest Christmas memories as a child is listening to my grandmother sing Christmas carols. Nancy Sinatra she was not, but Grandma could sing along with Mitch Miller like nobody’s business. From the time our Christmas tree was situated in front of the big picture window in the living room ... Mitch was spinning ‘round and ‘round on our record player, and Grandma didn’t miss a beat.

Grandma sang along with Mitch as the season progressed. I can’t say Grandma was always in tune, and I’m really not sure she sang every word accurately. But regardless of those minor details, the Christmas tunes blared through the house, and the Grandma/Mitch Miller duet is a memory that still plays over and over again in my head.

After Grandma passed away in the early ‘70s, I found I couldn’t listen to Christmas carols for quite a few years. Every song reminded me of her and what was, and just the sound of a simple Christmas carol sent tears running down my cheeks. It took a long time before I was able to listen to those Christmas carols again.