Where Have All the Carolers Gone
Dragging Christmases Past to Christmases Present43 total reviews
Comment from prettybluebirds
A very touching story. I can't say that I ever saw or heard carolers. I was raised on a farm in Michigan, way out in the country. We did have a Christmas program at my country school every year where all of us kids would sing Christmas carols. Your story is beautiful and, from one geezer to another, the old Christmas memories will live forever in our hearts and minds.
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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A very touching story. I can't say that I ever saw or heard carolers. I was raised on a farm in Michigan, way out in the country. We did have a Christmas program at my country school every year where all of us kids would sing Christmas carols. Your story is beautiful and, from one geezer to another, the old Christmas memories will live forever in our hearts and minds.
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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From one geezer to another... I love that. We still have some gas in the tank though our sparkplugs may need a little buffing. I'm sorry yu didn't have the personal experience of hearing Christmas carolers. It all blends together so beautifully with the hot chocolate and cookies.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
That was so lovely, Jay. I remember going carol singing with my younger brother, and singing our hearts out. What happy memories you've brought me. Why don't they do it today? Because we are scared that our children will be taken, or some lunatic will decide tonight is the night he'll have his first kill.... We can't take the risk anymore, and that is such a sad thing to have to say, and a sad place to be living in. This is such a worthy six star memory of yours, my friend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Have a wonder full Christmas and a brilliant New Year!! Love and hugs, Sandra xxxx
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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That was so lovely, Jay. I remember going carol singing with my younger brother, and singing our hearts out. What happy memories you've brought me. Why don't they do it today? Because we are scared that our children will be taken, or some lunatic will decide tonight is the night he'll have his first kill.... We can't take the risk anymore, and that is such a sad thing to have to say, and a sad place to be living in. This is such a worthy six star memory of yours, my friend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Have a wonder full Christmas and a brilliant New Year!! Love and hugs, Sandra xxxx
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Ah, love to you and yours, too, my Dear Sandra. I'm so glad you had the joy of Christmas Carolers in your heart's memories as well. Yes, I'm afraid the whole world has lost its innocence. All we can do is keep our memories alive. Your six stars warms my heart!
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You are most welcome, my friend. I've just noticed how I spelt 'wonderful - wonder full!' Lol, I promise you I hadn't had a Christmas drink when I wrote your review! LOL xxx
Comment from bhogg
I totally enjoyed your slide back to Christmas past. It is interesting how a "trigger' of some kind can bring things back. Had to smile at your mom brushing her teeth with Brylcreem. Can't say much, I brushed mine with Preparation H once. Good job on this. Bill
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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I totally enjoyed your slide back to Christmas past. It is interesting how a "trigger' of some kind can bring things back. Had to smile at your mom brushing her teeth with Brylcreem. Can't say much, I brushed mine with Preparation H once. Good job on this. Bill
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Hahaha! Preparation H! There's a joke hiding there somewhere. Thanks for reading and for the lovely stars.
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Well, alcohol was involved!
Comment from Judy Lawless
Amen and Hallelujah! I share your sentiments, Jay. We used to have Carolers in our neighborhood when I was a kid, and in later years I participated with neighbors in spreading Christmas joy through song. It's been years since I've seen any in Canada. This is a Wonderful story. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Amen and Hallelujah! I share your sentiments, Jay. We used to have Carolers in our neighborhood when I was a kid, and in later years I participated with neighbors in spreading Christmas joy through song. It's been years since I've seen any in Canada. This is a Wonderful story. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Judy, I'm so thrilled you enjoyed my story and that it touched a place in your heart. All we have now are our memories. I'm afraid the world will never return to it's innocence.
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You?re welcome, Jay. Sadly, I think you?re right.
Comment from Ric Myworld
Oh, those wonderful times. I used to go caroling every year for two or three nights leading up to Christmas. We had a quartet even in later years when the shopping malls were opened. We got paid, but I would have gladly done it for nothing. Wouldn't be wonderful if we could go back to those times . . . Thanks for sharing. I wish I had a six.
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Oh, those wonderful times. I used to go caroling every year for two or three nights leading up to Christmas. We had a quartet even in later years when the shopping malls were opened. We got paid, but I would have gladly done it for nothing. Wouldn't be wonderful if we could go back to those times . . . Thanks for sharing. I wish I had a six.
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Oh, don't worry about the six, Ric. I was just dusting out a few chambers in my heart with this piece. It felt good to re-visit Christmas Past. In fact, as I get older it gets easier to linger there a while. Could be worse places to hang out. I can picture you singing, Ric. I have a hunch you're quite an outward-going person.
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Yes, Jay, I find myself thinking back to Christmases past more these days. I was usually the quiet guy hidden in the corner most of the time; unless, singing or around people I knew well. And of course, after a few drinks that use to give me the nerve to say and do all the things I didn't have the nerve to say and do otherwise. LOL. Happy Holidays!
Comment from damommy
How could anyone pass this up without giving it a six!!!! I loved reading this. It brought back so many memories, just like yours, of waiting for carolers, and also being a caroler. Nowadays, it's mostly done indoors at facilities. I don't know of anywhere here where carolers go door to door anymore. It could be dangerous these days. I read of a city, can't remember where up north, where 300 carolers met in the town center and were heckled by hooligans until the police had to be called. Oh, how times have changed!
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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How could anyone pass this up without giving it a six!!!! I loved reading this. It brought back so many memories, just like yours, of waiting for carolers, and also being a caroler. Nowadays, it's mostly done indoors at facilities. I don't know of anywhere here where carolers go door to door anymore. It could be dangerous these days. I read of a city, can't remember where up north, where 300 carolers met in the town center and were heckled by hooligans until the police had to be called. Oh, how times have changed!
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Oh, Yvonne, you warm my heart so with your wonderful words. Guard those memories well. The world will not return to that earlier joy, I'm afraid. Why would anyone heckle a band of carolers. Ah, let's go make a cuppa hot chocolate.
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I'm on my way. Get out the cups. 8-)
Comment from karenina
Merry Christmas Jay! I want to snuggle near a fire and wrap your comforting memories around me, pulling me back, back into my own childhood. We also had the spontaneous delight of Caroling outside our front door. We also had the very same (oft forgotten sugar) recipe for that dark Hershey's cocoa powder from that seemingly old brown tin. Oh, how I wish our children today could know the joy and innocence of such sweet and simple joys! My oldest granddaughter plays the flute in her high school band. They did indeed have a concert this year. Sadly, only the faculty band members and a small chorus were allowed in the building. I will quote my Madison: "Somehow it's just not the same when we have to go through a security checkpoint and our instruments are removed from their cases to look for weapons." Indeed, Madison.
Parents, siblings, grandparents etc. were all given a "link" so we could go home to our socially isolated homes and "watch" the performances on our phones or laptops. Surely there is "Goodwill towards men" in many hearts! How terrifying that these golden memories will not be so for our younger generations. Your story was a reminder not only of what we have lost, but what we must together unite to reclaim. I don't wish to survive in a "Bah, Humbug" world... Let us raise a cup of cheer, toast to the ever-present Christmas spirit... and live each day pulling out memories into the present as best we can. We owe that much to a generation that lives with "shelter in place" exercises, and the worry of yet another high school shooter determined to snuff out joy. God Bless... Six Christmas stars for your my friend! --Your poem is a gift to all of us!
Karenina
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Merry Christmas Jay! I want to snuggle near a fire and wrap your comforting memories around me, pulling me back, back into my own childhood. We also had the spontaneous delight of Caroling outside our front door. We also had the very same (oft forgotten sugar) recipe for that dark Hershey's cocoa powder from that seemingly old brown tin. Oh, how I wish our children today could know the joy and innocence of such sweet and simple joys! My oldest granddaughter plays the flute in her high school band. They did indeed have a concert this year. Sadly, only the faculty band members and a small chorus were allowed in the building. I will quote my Madison: "Somehow it's just not the same when we have to go through a security checkpoint and our instruments are removed from their cases to look for weapons." Indeed, Madison.
Parents, siblings, grandparents etc. were all given a "link" so we could go home to our socially isolated homes and "watch" the performances on our phones or laptops. Surely there is "Goodwill towards men" in many hearts! How terrifying that these golden memories will not be so for our younger generations. Your story was a reminder not only of what we have lost, but what we must together unite to reclaim. I don't wish to survive in a "Bah, Humbug" world... Let us raise a cup of cheer, toast to the ever-present Christmas spirit... and live each day pulling out memories into the present as best we can. We owe that much to a generation that lives with "shelter in place" exercises, and the worry of yet another high school shooter determined to snuff out joy. God Bless... Six Christmas stars for your my friend! --Your poem is a gift to all of us!
Karenina
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Karenina, your review is the greatest gift you could give me this Christmas season. Ohhh, Madison, in all her wisdom, tapped into the shadow side of security system. Give her a big hug from me. I've said it time and again in my comments to reviews ... any memories we have from our innocent Christmases Past ... oh, clutch them to your heart. Don't let them vanish from disuse. cherish them because the whole world has lost its innocence. Indeed, "raise the cup of cheer," my dear Karenina, raise it high above the clamoring hands of the nay-sayers. Hoard its headiness. It's all we have. God bless you, Karenina, and have the most Blessed of Christmases. You've been through such an ordeal. Your return to us has brightened our horizons.
Jay
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You make me cry.
It's so good to know you!
Merry Christmas, Jay...
Comment from amahra
Hi, Jay, I live in Baltimore and caroling is alive and well; but the streets are too dangerous this time of year. So caroling is performed indoors, like my apartment building by the church youth choir, nursing homes, children's wards in hospitals and in prisons. But you're right, it needs to be back on the streets--but with a police escort unfortunately. Hope you get your wish. Can you sing Jay? Maybe you could start one and it'll catch on. Anyway loved your article.
"You'll catch your death of damn foolishness [love this line.]
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Hi, Jay, I live in Baltimore and caroling is alive and well; but the streets are too dangerous this time of year. So caroling is performed indoors, like my apartment building by the church youth choir, nursing homes, children's wards in hospitals and in prisons. But you're right, it needs to be back on the streets--but with a police escort unfortunately. Hope you get your wish. Can you sing Jay? Maybe you could start one and it'll catch on. Anyway loved your article.
"You'll catch your death of damn foolishness [love this line.]
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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My singing a Christmas Carol would be its death knell, Amahra. But I make up for it in my applause. It's so good that there are Christmas Carols in your city. But we both agree it needs to be door-to-door, each performance being oh-so-personal and warm. A special thanks for your lovely six stars.
Comment from Ulla
Yes, I suppose you need that uniting tradition to make a revisit in the US. In Denmark it was never a tradition, not as far as I know. But then again Christmas there is celebrated quite differently than in the rest of the Christian world.
I loved to read this lovely memory of yours, Jay. Yes, I agree, whipped cream certainly don't come from a bottle. Pure chemicals, nothing to do with the real thing. Good luck. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Yes, I suppose you need that uniting tradition to make a revisit in the US. In Denmark it was never a tradition, not as far as I know. But then again Christmas there is celebrated quite differently than in the rest of the Christian world.
I loved to read this lovely memory of yours, Jay. Yes, I agree, whipped cream certainly don't come from a bottle. Pure chemicals, nothing to do with the real thing. Good luck. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Thank you, Ulla. You are so gracious.. I'm glad the story touched your heart.
Comment from Gert sherwood
Where Have All the Carolers Gone
Jay, I'm touched by you Dragging Christmases Past to Christmases Present. I recall that our church choir would delight go to homes and with happiness sing Christmas, which was a good forty five years ago. Thank you Jay by bringing back a memory from the past.
Merry Christmas
Gert and Stan
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Where Have All the Carolers Gone
Jay, I'm touched by you Dragging Christmases Past to Christmases Present. I recall that our church choir would delight go to homes and with happiness sing Christmas, which was a good forty five years ago. Thank you Jay by bringing back a memory from the past.
Merry Christmas
Gert and Stan
Comment Written 21-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 21-Dec-2021
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Ah, Gert, your review touched my heart. I think this story has resonated with a lot of FanStorians. Everyone seems to agree with me that we need to hoard our memories of Christmases past because the world has grown too cynical and coarse. It's lost its innocence.
Bless you and Merry Christmas to you and Stan.
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Smiles back to and a Merry Christmas
Gert
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Smiles back to and a Merry Christmas
Gert