The other day we were in Phoenix shopping and over lunch we heard Bing Crosby’s song “A White Christmas.” Since Wikipedia gives Phoenix 0% chance of ever having a white Christmas, we lamented the fact but rejoiced knowing that we may well have one while visiting Billings for the holiday. I mused at how a song can still move me emotionally as it touches something special for me; having a white Christmas.
After further reflection, I remembered that song means much more to a whole generation that too often is easily forgotten. My mother-in-law was a nurse during WWII stationed in San Diego.
She tells the story that when Pearl Harbor was hit, all the animals were evacuated from the San Diego Zoo, located next door to the naval hospital, so the zoo could be converted to a holding facility for all the wounded shipped to the mainland. Of course, I could never do it justice by recounting such a horrific scene, but what she experienced was amazing. Yet, that entire generation embraced wartime with a humility found somewhere between innocent determination and a quiet strength through wisdom and maturity. Many things changed for that generation, yet they remained the same, amazingly, through it all. In short, that generation has a mentality that would suggest their slogan being, “That’s life.”
Bing Crosby, at one point during the war, was dubbed the most admired man on earth. His song “A White Christmas,” was released Christmas 1941, the same month that Pearl Harbor was attacked, and is the best selling song of all time. I can believe it as it means a lot to me living in a place that does not have white Christmases. But for my mother-in-law, she still tears up when she hears that song. For her and so many others it humbles me to know that song means so much more.
Let’s not forget our military as they are away from home this Christmas. As for me, I am going to send my cousin Nathan who is serving in Iraq right now a box of snow. I think he would appreciate it.
