Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas. This year, we are celebrating in North Carolina for the first time. My four children and Luna drove down with us two days ago.
As many on the blog know, we have always gone to Chicago for Christmas. However, the illness of a loved one in Durham led us to change our plans at the last minute. The four kids came through like champions. We rented a house in Durham near my inlaws.
Due to my Catholic and my wife’s Jewish traditions, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah today — a double header! With the holidays falling on the same day this year, it will be latkes and log cakes for the Turleys.
I was lamenting when we arrived that we could not have a tree due to the last minute change. Then, yesterday, a tree suddenly appeared on the porch. Two of the kids were able to find one lot still open and literally bought the last tree. It was not exactly the Rockefeller Center tree, but it was a real, honest-to-God Christmas tree. We were able to find a few lights, a dozen ornaments, and a cinder block to use as a stand. The kids made a paper angel for the top of the tree. It is a bit of a Charlie Brown tree, but we love it. We are here with each other and I have never been more proud of my family.
Last night, I made our traditional Cioppino soup — a tradition started by my late father, Jack Turley. It is a spicy mix of mussels, shrimp, sea bass, clams, crab meat, and other ingredients. I have previously written how I grew up hating the soup but the tradition fell to me when my father became ill. I am now as addicted to the soup as my father was. When I make the soup each year, it continues an indelible connection to my Dad and best friend.
Santa did come this morning despite our sudden change in plans. Tonight we will be having our usual beef, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and fresh grounded horseradish sauce. We also have a Turley Zinfandel to enjoy with dinner. We also have a great Bûche de Noël (or yule log cake) and other delights for dessert.
The Turley family wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. I will be toasting our blog family tonight and giving thanks for the wonderful community we have created at this site.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Turley
For our beloved Professor Turley, and all who are gathered here this happy morn….Have a wonderful Hanukkah, too:
Thank you Cindy and Merry Christmas. I love that song along with many others. It is a special year where Hanukah and Christmas fall on the same day. Should that be taken as a sign of unity and love?
The song was introduced in 1944 by Judy Garland’s film, Meet Me in St Louis. The history of the song, from the original version by Hugh Martin, to what Garland sang in the film and later to American troops, is quite interesting. So thank you for posting the song.
Here is the history, as applicable to us today
Thinking they had written a perfect song for this touching and tragic moment in the film, Blane and Martin were probably shocked when Garland refused to sing their “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” She sent the song back to the writers demanding that they put a more positive spin on the number…..
During much of the past three years Judy had spent every spare moment entertaining American troops. …She knew that most of them were young men her age who had spent years fighting for their lives, defending a nation. What these men wanted -more than anything else-was to some-how live through the war and come back home. They wanted, needed to believe that there was a lot of life left in front of them.
….
By request, Blane and Martin obligingly wrote a far more upbeat, new opening. There was an obvious encouraging tone in “let your heart be light; from now on our troubles will be out of sight” that presented the kind of message Garland felt America needed. Judy embraced the revised “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with a passion and emotion that few could understand. This wasn’t just another song to Garland; it was a prayer for the millions wanting nothing more than to be home for Christmas. In the new version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” listeners in the U.S. and overseas could believe that the war was almost over, that families would be reuniting, and that the promised joy that had been a part of Christmases past would soon be here again.
Garland’s rich voice revealed the full range of emotions found in the song’s lyrics. In an era when Christmas songs seemed to mean more than they ever had before, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was one of the best. When Judy sang it to soldiers at the Hollywood Canteen, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. When battle weary men in Europe and the Pacific heard it, they clung to the song as if their dreams were carried on each word and note.
For the next twenty-five years of her often troubled life, Judy Garland seemed to always come alive during Christmas. The holidays somehow renewed the star. It was almost as if singing her signature Christmas standard gave her the gift of new vision and hope, just as the song did for millions of others who felt lonely and sad during the holiday season.
Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas
Publisher : Zondervan (October 1, 2001)
ISBN-13 : 978-0310239260
https://archive.org/details/storiesbehindbes00acec/page/78/mode/2up
Santa’s wish list for Res Ipsa Loquitur is hundreds of forward-thinking topics in the New Year, and a civility revival across the land. Merry Christmas to Jonathan, the Turleys and every contributor to this blog site.
Merry Christmas. These are often the best Christmases when an unexpected problem leads to a change in site. They are especially memorable, in my experience. A beautiful state North Carolina. We always loved the western part but the coast is beautiful also. Hope are goes well.
God bless us all and give us peace.
Welcome to North Carolina. Nothing could be finer than to be in CAROLINA. Merry and Blessed Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. May God bless you all and keep you safe and well. Look forward to reading more of your writings.
Christmas for sure is about family….and it appears the Turley family knows how to celebrate Christmas by being with family.
Merry Christmas to all!
I join all of the above in wishing you and you entire family health, peace and happiness for the Holiday Season and the year ahead.
Just FYI, the year of the Wood Snake begins on January 29.
Merry Christmas, Prof. Turley.. may the Blessings we attribute to this day chase you down… always.
Sounds like you have all the meaning of the seasons going there—Happy Hanukkah & Merry Christmas and prayers for your sick relative.
Merry Christmas to ALL. Jonthan the special soup you made sounds great.
And to you and yours.
Thank you for all that you do! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah
Merry Christmas to all the Turley family.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all of you, you just pulled a couple of tears out of my eyes, and that hardly happens, Faith, hope and Love
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!!
I love your tree topper!
May the hope Christmas & the lights of Hanukkah guide you. Thank you for the joy you bring through the truths you tell.
Peace be with you & your family.👼🏻🌟
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Keep on keeping on.
You are an inspiration, Mr. Turley. God Bless you and your family.
Merry Christmas and all the best to you and your family for a healthy and happy new year!
Merry Christmas, hoping for peace on earth.