GrownUpChristmasList

Well, it's that time of year again. Neil Kramer at citizenofthemonth.com is hosting his Third Annual Blogger Christmahanukwanzaakah Online Holiday Concert.

My friend Vinny participated the first year (a stunning rendition of O Holy Night), then last year I composed a new song entitled Vermont Snow for the occasion. This year, I wanted a song that spoke to my hopes for the many people in my life, and around the world.

Here is just the audio file, if you prefer,
community.middlebury.edu/~coyne/GrownUpChristmasList.mp3
and the lyrics are below.

Grown-Up Christmas List

Music by David Foster
Lyrics by Linda Thompson

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
Can you still help somehow
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called
The innocence of youth
Maybe only in their blind belief
Can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
And wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Sorry for the unforgiving midi accompaniment (I practiced the accompaniment on the piano, but those key changes did me in!), but hopefully the wonderful images, used through Creative Commons licensure, will make up for it. Image attributions as follows:

margotta www.flickr.com/photos/margotta/333745611/
Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton www.flickr.com/photos/bestrated1/71515803/
Personal photo: Me with Santa, 1971
Personal photo: Aidan (my son) with Santa 2005
bass_nroll www.flickr.com/photos/bass_nroll/2159108478/
NuageDeNuit www.flickr.com/photos/nuagedenuit/340844168/
mdumlao98's www.flickr.com/photos/mdumlao98/314109245/
carf www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/286189522/
I'mBatman www.flickr.com/photos/brunodiaz/1783445957/
gocyclones www.flickr.com/photos/gocyclones/2138386752/
Cayusa www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2051756510/
Nite_Owl www.flickr.com/photos/nite_owl/216868154/
hdptcar www.flickr.com/photos/hdptcar/949798984/
Tim Green aka atoach www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/2993586368/
daveblume www.flickr.com/photos/kioko/2554192279/
mdumlao98 www.flickr.com/photos/mdumlao98/2667846279/
Personal photo: Jim and I practicing our wedding dance 2002
Studio 60 and the Sunset Strip: The Christmas Show. Not used with permission.
Personal Photo: Aidan marveling at his reflection 2006
Personal Photo: Aidan's 1st Christmas 2005
TIO... is taking a holiday break... www.flickr.com/photos/66179962@N00/2560098981/
jeff.snodgrass www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_snodgrass/1172037902/
danny.hammontree www.flickr.com/photos/digitalgrace/123922001/
Celestial Photography www.flickr.com/photos/celestial_rocks/841745025/
Clonny www.flickr.com/photos/clonpop/59178757/
vonbergen.net www.flickr.com/photos/vonbergendotnet/2496406081/
Jayel Aheram www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/283162678/
Sir Mervs www.flickr.com/photos/sir_mervs/2805112512/
®oberto's www.flickr.com/photos/stelling/11632301/
Capt. Tim www.flickr.com/photos/captaintim/3035639444/
Personal photo: Aidan and I the day after his birth 2005
Rubink1 www.flickr.com/photos/rubink1/2613694430/
carf www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/89073331/
Personal photo: Wreath at the entrance to our driveway 2006
cenz www.flickr.com/photos/cenz/62810334/

Thank you, Neil, for organizing this online event yet again. Happy Hanukkah to you!

Happy Holidays one and all, and may peace be yours this New Year.