One of the things you may not know about me is that I have two passions that most of my online friends do not see. I love to cook. I also love to sing (in a choir, where my mediocrity has a hiding place-grin). I particularly get a thrill out of Christmas carols. They are important markers of time and immovable objects for me in a life that changes at a frenetic pace.
My favorite Christmas carol? I heard the bells on Christmas day. Yet it was only yesterday that I took the time to learn the backstory behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it’s lyricist. Here’s a version of it from The Carpenters on YouTube.
I recommend a quick overview of his life here. I admire the man.
Much of the best writing in life comes from the dark place that is tragedy. What was going on in Longfellow’s life as penned the words “For hate is strong and mocks the song, of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”? The war between the states. His own son was severely injured in the war and would be maimed for the rest of his life. What else was going on? He was grieving the loss of his beloved wife in a tragic fire that took her life and, (in his efforts to save her), burned him severely. The beard that Longfellow is known for reportedly came from the fact that he could no longer shave due to those burns. This happened in 1861.
The loneliness and darkness of the death of his wife along with the despair of the war were the backdrop for the poem that later became the carol. From those dark Civil War days of sadness and loss, came the beautiful words: “Til ringing, singing on it’s way the world revolved from night to day.” “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail…with peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Since we are REALLY good at procrastinating sending cards… From the real TeamEric to each of you:
We wish you “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.” Merry Christmas. And here’s to a successful 2009 for everyone who reads these words.
See you next year!
Eric and Jen (Cam, Craig, Jamie and Jordan)
Brian Kinkade says:
Eric, thank you for sharing this holiday carol and heartfelt story.
Merry Christmas to you, your’s and to all!
December 22, 2008 — 6:31 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Back at ya, Brian!
December 22, 2008 — 8:09 am
Greg Swann says:
Eric gets my vote for Father of the Year!
December 22, 2008 — 8:50 am
Sharon Hollas says:
What a touching story, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Sharon Hollas – Surrey Real Estate
December 22, 2008 — 1:43 pm
Scott Hack says:
Interesting pick for a favorite carol. Mine is the Bing Crosby version of White Christmas from Holiday Inn. Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2008 — 7:01 pm
Brian Brady says:
“I love to cook”
Now you tell me. Why did you omit this fact in Orlando?
Merry Christmas my friend.
December 22, 2008 — 7:33 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
@Sharon- Merry Christmas to you in Canada. Good to meet you!
@Scott- and to you as well! (see you at lunch today?)
@Brian Brady – (grin) we were making too good of use of the time to slow it down with cooking!(perhaps in May?) Have a merry Christmas as well, my friend. (I hear Maggie’s been pretty good this year…if you have any pull with St. Nick, now’s the time! 😉 ).
December 23, 2008 — 3:49 am
Mike Taylor says:
Singing? Cooking? You are simply amazing!
Have a wonderful Christmas…it was a pleasure to finally meet you this year. If you are up for it, I think we should do lunch in L-ville sometime in Q1 2010.
December 23, 2008 — 4:53 am
Teri L says:
Now I have wonderful vision of you in a kitchen (just like the one in Orlando! 😉 ) singing a Christmas carol while you prepare a Christmas goose, as Team Eric bustles about setting the dining room table. I have you as a tenor, but I can adjust my vision if that’s not correct. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Eric! All the best to your lovely family for the new year!
December 23, 2008 — 5:41 am
Eric Blackwell says:
@Mike- It was an honor to meet you as well! I am and let’s plan it! Merry Christmas to you!
@Teri- Bass/Baritone actually. The true vision of me in the kitchen is with Craig (tall one, upper left, 8th grade and no he is not standing on a box!). Craig wants to be a chef so the kitchen is our time together. Picture the rest of the family playing “Iron Chef” with us. They pick the secret ingredient and we have an hour to make 5 courses that they all have to eat (true story). Secret ingredient was squash. Kitchen took about a week to clean. hehe. Huge mess. Turned out pretty OK, all things considered!
They clean up well, but these kids are teenagers, trust me.(yikes)
Merry Christmas to you, Teri. Thanks most of all for your friendship. Send my best to the family Lussier!
December 23, 2008 — 6:19 am
Eric Blackwell says:
@Mike- follow up note…if gas is on you, then lunch is on me. Or I can come to Indy…I ALWAYS like going to Indy.
For those who have not been there it is about the best downtown of a major city IMO in the country.
December 23, 2008 — 6:23 am
J Boyer Morristown NJ says:
Happy holidays to you Eric and to all reading these wonderful articles here at the Bloodhoundblog.
Jim
December 23, 2008 — 9:01 am
Jim Johnson CRS says:
Thanks for the great post! Happy Holidays from Bend Oregon.
December 24, 2008 — 7:43 am
Susan says:
Thanks for the heart-warming story Eric and to everyone for your wise words and thoughts all year long. Happy holidays!
December 24, 2008 — 5:33 pm