Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

My mom and I went to a funeral today for the farmer up the road. We sat next to his friend, Gus, 95, who is, for us, the farmer next door. It was good to be all together there, and good to hug Mr. Rinehart's children (my generation), who had all been together in April for the death of their mother.

A tough year.

It put me in mind of the melancholy song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I didn't realize just how much of a downer it was--with the original Meet Me in St. Louis-based lyrics--till I read this Wikipedia article. I have to say I like the revisions that emerged in the movie and in recordings since.

Here is the youtube clip of Judy Garland singing the song to Margaret O'Brien in the window seat scene, complete with the smashing of the snow people! The first time I saw this movie, that scene amazed me--very dark, very crazy, real tears. I guess Margaret O'Brien was quite well known for her real tears.

But it was a beautiful, sunny, blue-sky day on this Blue Monday in the blog. And the jazzy "Amazing Grace" at the end of the funeral had already put smiles back on our faces. Robert Rinehart, farmer, also played the saxophone!

And that's Judy Garland, above, from a different movie, looking like a snow angel.