2026

When jingle bells hold forth during the magical Holiday season my brain smiles. 

Instead of sleighs and Christmas decorations I think of old radio and television jingles.  I sing them

with abandon.

Plop. Plop. Fizz. Fizz. Oh, what a relief it is. Brylcreem-a little dab'll do ya.  The Best Part of Waking Up.

Sometimes you feel like a nut-Sometimes you don't.  See the USA in a Chevrolet. I remember every word.

Chilly days have kept me inside more. I even watched television. Now I see  people dancing through a grocery store. A group dressed for

snorkeling squashed into an elevator.  Youngsters telling me which home improvement company I should hire.

 A large Emu owner in strange scenarios - as 'performer' for an insurance company.

Jingles helped me remember the product decades later.  I could sing along with them.  And yes - we bought a Chevrolet.  We usd

Folgers coffee.  We loved Almond Joys.  Jingles were brain food.  We felt a strange kind of loyalty. The current commercials?   I have no idea who or what

they are promoting.

I'd like to teach the world to sing ... in perfect harmony ... Oh yes.

# # # 

Some years ago, my family gathered in the North Carolina mountains for a Reunion.  Great excitement.  We enjoy each other’s company.  When the hugs and telling each other how wonderful we looked were over, I made an announcement to the Clan.

Here are the rules of the Reunion said the spoiler.  “There will be no talking about aches and pains, operations, creaky knees or medical appointments.”   Shock.  My brother Jim said …What are we going to talk about?’  We all laughed.

We agreed that with age – along with the promised wisdom - come less-welcome reminders the clock is ticking.  How will we handle the reminders? A question worthy of serious family discussion.

In this morning’s New York Times, a columnist offers an observation on aging.   His words are more elegant.  His conclusion mirrors what we decided would be our family watchword going forward.  He says: I can be sad and angry about time’s toll, and rue what has been lost. Or I can work with what remains.

It was a memorable Reunion.  Our numbers have dwindled.  Our promise to ourselves and each other has stayed intact.   Work with what remains.

# # #