Ghosts of Christmas Past: 2006

The Year of Jose Feliciano. It really was the most played song on my iPod that year.

The Twelve Months of Christmas
Or, “Feliz Navidad” meets iPod: A cautionary tale

January 2006: Minimal arguments when tree comes down and holiday lights go out around neighborhood, yet requests for “Feliz Navidad” during car rides continue unabated. Apparently the holidays are over everywhere but our minivan.

February: Holiday ornaments AWOL from tree begin turning up among couch cushions. “Feliz Navidad” climbs to top of ‘Top 25 Most Played’ iTunes playlist. “Christmas is over” battle plan abandoned in favor of more serious skirmish: Convincing Leah that practicing contortions that allow her to get out of her car seat without unfastening the seat belt is not a good use of her time. Jose Feliciano continues to rule minivan airwaves.

March: “Viva Las Vegas” takes over during two-day reprieve from festive holiday tunes – sister Heather’s bachelorette shenanigans. Upon return to reality, however, kids find it a poor substitute for their favorite. A fading temporary tattoo of the cast of “Thunder from Down Under” is then the only souvenir of the weekend.

April: Arrival of Easter and temporary fascination with plastic eggs and bunnies do not lessen requests for a certain Christmas carol. iPod once again gets a break from holiday cheer during trip to California for Heather’s wedding. No reprieve for babysitter, however, since Leah has located “Feliz Navidad” on home computer.

May: “Feliz Navidad” emanates from minivan during drizzly wait at bus stop. Passing neighbor smiles, says, “I like your Christmas music.” No time to ponder whether this means, “You guys are endearingly quirky” or, “Two houses between yours and mine is not nearly enough.”

June: The community pool is open, but the spirit of Christmas continues. Mood in driver’s seat wavers between ‘bah, humbug’ and alarm at inadvertent harmonizing with Jose Feliciano.

July: “Feliz Navidad” perks up twins on ride home from Fourth of July fireworks. After an impatient half-hour wait, twins dive for cover at first explosion. Once equilibrium is restored, Maddie, in classic display of 3-year-old logic, calls fireworks “cute” and declares, “I love them!”

August: iPod returns to Apple for battery replacement. Repeated acquiescence to “Feliz Navidad” requests probably partly to blame. After a couple of weeks of reliance on local radio (calling in a request for “Feliz Navidad” seemed imprudent), iPod returns in time for Leah’s surf day in Virginia Beach. Christmas spirit is alive and well on the shore.

September: Reprieve? Laurie Berkner challenges Jose Feliciano in backseat passengers’ affections with “The Happiest Song I Know” and “I’m Not Perfect.” Minivan musical repertoire occasionally expands to include Carly Simon’s “Coming Around Again,” acceptable because it includes the lyrics to “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” “Feliz Navidad” still periodically requested.

October: New song preferences wear thin in driver’s seat. “Snuggle Puppy,” a musical take on a favorite Sandra Boynton book, is introduced. Regret follows minutes later, when it becomes clear that listeners are not satisfied unless song is played a minimum of three consecutive times. “Feliz Navidad” regains some appeal.

November: Spouse downloads soundtrack from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.” Three delighted Disney fans decide they not only like to request Mickey songs, they also like to sing along at high volume. At times, adult playlists can be substituted without vocalists noticing. The lesson: some “grownup” songs mix better with Mickey Mouse lyrics than others do.

December: Christmas carol playlist makes annual debut on drive to holiday festival. When “Feliz Navidad” comes on, Maddie asks, “Is this a Christmas song?”

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of our hearts,
The Hamiltons: Mike, Alison, Leah, Lauren, and Madeleine