Christmas Memories

The past six weeks have been our most challenging so far since losing Jay in February. Not only for the obvious reasons that it was the holidays, but also because December is a big month in general for our family: Lindsay’s birthday is on the 6^th, our anniversary is on the 11^th and Jay’s birthday is on the 16^th. It was tough to engage in any celebration and cheer under the circumstances. While the weight of our loss pressed down on us we sifted through our Gallagher family archives to find moments of joy and laughter that we could remember to brighten the season a bit. One such memory follows:

Last year, on New Year’s Day, we enjoyed a late afternoon lunch and Cousin Gift Exchange at my older brother’s house about an hour away. We’d scheduled the events of the day to account for the sleep schedule of my younger brother’s daughter. We got started after her naptime and wrapped up before 5 so she could be taken back home and tucked into her crib at the appointed hour. This schedule meant that we too were on the road relatively early, although we had no strict bedtimes looming – just a free night to do whatever we wanted.

As we headed east on 66 we mulled over our options. Should we see a movie? Pop in on some friends? Head to the mall? We struggled to arrive at unanimous agreement. Our potential for an evening of fun was quickly turning into heaps of frustration.  There was never a point in this discussion where two of us agreed on any single idea.

Suddenly, a fresh option appeared up ahead. We’d totally forgotten about a classic NOVA Christmas tradition that was right on our way home. The flickering lights were the perfect reminder and made our decision a cinch -- the Bull Run Festival of Lights would be our last holiday hoorah.

For those of you who live in Northern Virginia, you might be familiar with this annual spectacle. If you haven’t enjoyed it in person, you’ve likely caught glimpses of it along route 66. It’s a holiday light extravaganza erected in a local park that transforms what is ordinarily a dark and spooky drive into a spectacularly bright display of Christmas wonder. With over 40,000 lights, thrilling scenes unfold before your eyes as you drive along the winding road ever so slowly so as not to miss a single brilliant detail. There are Lords that leap over the top of your car, Father Christmas who blows ice blue snowflakes, toy soldiers, snowmen, penguins, Santa and his reindeer, and even the oddly placed but always appreciated scenes of Jack and the Beanstalk and Jumping Fish.

Tim veered off the highway and navigated us toward the park. He paid the ranger and pulled forward ever so slowly to play on our mounting sense of excitement. I took the opportunity before we arrived at the start to tune the radio to 97.1 Wash FM. That’s the station that goes *All Christmas All the Time* every Holiday season. That’s the station you have to listen to while you drive through the light display. It’s the perfect backdrop to the Festival of Lights.

Except…hit the breaks! … this was New Year’s Day.  Wash FM had reverted back to their regular programming of Fresh Hits from the 80s, 90s and Today! and well, those songs do not make an excellent soundtrack for a spectacular Christmas lights display!

Our bright idea started to dim. How fun was this going to be without Christmas music? Was it too late to get a refund? We tried to stream Pandora but couldn’t get a good signal in the middle of the park. So we were all feeling a little disappointed. I attempted to restore everyone’s cheer, We’ll SING Christmas songs!

That didn’t light them up.

Then came a wild realization by one member of our family (who now wishes to remain anonymous). This person did have a Christmas song loaded on their phone!

Really? That’s great! Pull it up! Let’s go!

I couldn’t believe our good fortune!

Which  one is it? Holly Jolly Christmas? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Ummm, no…not exactly. The song of choice, the song that had the esteemed distinction of being the only Christmas song downloaded onto this person’s phone was “Santa Tell Me” by the fabulous Ariana Grande.

There was a collective groan in our car. (Finally! Four-fifths of us agreed on something!) This was NOT the song we wanted to hear! But, alas, it was the song we had.

So this is where you may want to engage in some audience participation to get a true sense of how our evening unfolded.  Click here to get the song started in a new tab.  

You got it? OK. Now scroll down as slowly as possible through the following images (Many thanks to NOVA Parks for the memories.)

Santa, tell me, if you're really thEEEEEre...

feeling Christmas all around....

I've been down this road before...

I don't want a new broken heart...

Santa, tell me, if he really cAAAAres...

 don't make me fall in love again if he won't be here next year. 

So, please, imagine, if you will, that the tour through the Festival of Lights takes approximately 20 minutes. That adorable diddy is 3 minutes 20 seconds long.  That means we could have enjoyed “Santa Tell Me” 6 times over before the end of the display!

As we got rolling, we were in pretty good spirits. We chuckled to ourselves that this was the ONLY Christmas song available to us as it played through the first time. The second time through, we were all still reveling in the hilarity of the situation.

Yep. We’re doing this! We are listening to Ariana Grande on loop as we drive through Bull Run.

By the start of the third time Jay sorta lost it. He begged his dad to shut it off.  Couldn’t we just finish out the rest of the display in silence? But Tim’s a stickler and made the strong case that if you’re going through a Christmas lights display you have to play Christmas music. And since this was the only Christmas song we had, well, then, it would have to continue to play.

This inspired Jay. Obviously, his mission now was clear. Must. Find. Another. Christmas. Song!!!

But Christmas music wasn’t really Jay’s scene. He hated pop music. He didn’t really appreciate the oldies either.  So no Michael Buble, no Perry Como, not even Elvis was loaded on his phone.

As Ariana continued in the background with her desperate pleas to Santa, we threw Jay a bone.

What do you have on your phone, Buddy?  All Classic Rock – Boston, Pink Floyd, Eagles.

Any of those bands have a Christmas song?!

We snorted as we exchanged knowing glances…OF COURSE NOT!

Except, wait… I was struck by a thought –

I think the Eagles DO have a Christmas song, Buddy. It starts off, “Bells will be ringing…” See if you can pull that up!

My recollection was correct. There was an Eagles Christmas song and, miracle of all miracles (at least for a teenage boy), Jay had enough bars on his phone at this point in the journey to find it and stream it. So we bid adieu to Ms. Grande and turned it over to Don Henley and the gang.

With the discontent quieted in the back of the car, Tim and I proceeded through the final display of dancing lights with smiles of Christmas cheer on our faces. We did it.  Another awesome December had come to a close. And this night was one we wouldn’t soon forget. Thanks to Ariana...and The Eagles.

Post Script: As I revisit this moment I’m struck by a thought  -- What a difference a year makes. Could we have ever known the significance of the musical choices of that evening beyond this silly story?

Last year, at this time, that Eagles song lifted our spirits because it offered us a musical option that wasn’t Ariana Grande. This year, though, its lyrics hit hard. The song in question is called, “Please Come Home for Christmas” and its lyrics articulate with incredible accuracy the greatest longing of our hearts this season, and, I suspect, for many seasons to come. Listen here and as you do, please...