A friend went into hospice Monday night, and it's not easy to focus on Christmas but I'm trying. We have a fat, beautiful noble fir, the house is full of greens and and candles and gifts, there are 30 or so coming tomorrow. But I can't go a minute without thinking of Lisa, wishing she could go home, if only for Christmas. Her youngest is B's age.
I and Love and You - Avett Brothers. Even better than Emotionalism, despite no song names like "Paranoia in B Major."
The Hazards of Love - Decemberists. Which reminded me how much I loved "Oceanside" and "I Don't Mind" from their first album, so Five Songs is on heavy rotation, as well.
All of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix, although in the end, I think it's way overrated. Me and the critics, we disagree on this one.
And songs from children's choir days, like "Rocking" (Shawn Colvin), "Once in Royal David's City" (St. Martin in the Fields), "The Friendly Beasts" (Sufjan Stevens. There's also a version by Art Garfunkel and Amy Grant. How weird is that? Deeply weird, says I.)
And because I'm a chld of the 70s, "On This Night" (Michael McDonald). And just because I love it, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" (Martha Wainright).
And of course, one melancholy song to miss Grandmother, TL, Weldon, and Caryn by. It's Chrissy Hynde from the Bridge School album. 2000 miles is very far through the snow.
Merry Christmas.