18

I surprised MrsP with an early Christmas/Anniversary gift called the little red bell. We hung it on the front porch under the new roof • I’m surprised today’s song didn’t come in higher, but here’s #18: White Christmas, by Irving Berlin, 1941 • It first aired on December 25th of that year on the Kraft Music Hall Radio Show, crooned by Bing Crosby with Pearl Harbor having been attacked just a few days earlier • Berlin wrote the song for the 1942 film “Holiday Inn”, starring Bing and Fred Astaire • The song won an Oscar • It was also the title track for Bing’s 1954 musical / film “White Christmas” also starring Danny Kaye • Bing’s version is the best selling Christmas Song of all time at 50 million copies • Ironically Berlin was Jewish and never celebrated Christmas • Sadly, his 3 week old son died on December 25th in 1928. Every year following he and his wife visited their son’s grave. It’s thought the song’s lyrics reflect his nostalgia for what was never to be • We are overjoyed with Russia’s release of Brittany Griner but Paul Whelan must not be forgotten.