Plenty to be Thankful For

Plenty to be Thankful For

 

If you’ve spent any time on social media these past few months, I think it’s safe to say you’re well acquainted with Vince Guaraldi’s “The Great Pumpkin Waltz”. This song has been synonymous with the fall since my youth yet hearing it everywhere has recently made it lose some of the magic. So I find myself searching for comfort in other classic songs, secretly hoping they don’t catch on as quickly, “gate-keeping” if you will. It’s funny – sensory memories are maybe the most powerful ones we have. Smells and sounds have the power to transport us back to versions of ourselves we thought we’d forgotten.


Setting the scene for your Thanksgiving dinner is just as important as the food itself. I’m sure I’m not the only one with an arsenal of pumpkin and cinnamon candles lying in wait. We all want to feel warm and cozy this time of year (regardless of the weather… and if you’re a TN native you certainly know the disappointment of a warm Thanksgiving). I have created a playlist for the big day, one that is a wonderfully inviting backdrop for your time spent in the kitchen or at table.


As we prepare for that sweet transition into Christmas this weekend, let me remind you that Bing Crosby is not just for Christmas. If my music taste is any indication, I consider myself an old soul. Thanks to my parents, my childhood holidays were spent enraptured by the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Perry Como among others. To me, there is no greater comfort than hearing these voices crooning from the record player on our living room shelf; to put it simply, few modern artists can deliver that kind of nostalgia and heart. In between the Christmas music you’ll likely be introducing this Thursday, I hope this playlist earns a spot in your lineup. And I sincerely hope it takes you back to a Thanksgiving where you felt truly at home.

Though it didn’t quite fit the vibe of my playlist, I’d like to add one honorable mention - Blue Room’s “Every Time You Go Away”. My family has a silly but beloved ritual of watching the 1987 holiday flick Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on Thanksgiving each year. Though wildly funny (how could you not love John Candy and Steve Martin together?), this is one of the most heartfelt films I’ve ever seen. The song above appears at the emotional climax, when all those fuzzy and sad holiday feelings collide, and the strings of your heart are thoroughly tugged.

You can find the playlist here.

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1 comment

Man, I have some really cool friends ❤️❤️

Ann Marie Stephens

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