Christmas Day

This Wednesday is Christmas, and that has me thinking about how we spend Christmas. I build up expectations about Christmas as December progresses. I think that comes from being a kid and looking forward to presents and family. I still consider it a magic time regardless of where life has taken me. Some years have been happy and some sad. Some have been spent at home and some in other places with a variety of circumstances, from ski resorts to hospital visits. Some years I’ve worked - playing for Christmas brunches or Christmas parties. Of course I really fall strongly into the Christmas spirit with so many holiday songs and so many Christmas shows for my senior facilities and concerts. By Christmas Day I’m usually ready to stop playing them. One year I recorded my Christmas album in early January on purpose so that I would be well-rehearsed on the songs and able to record them easily and with some flair. What do I do nowadays on Christmas Day? First, we like to have a peaceful Christmas Eve with some sort of special food and music. We sometimes drive around neighborhoods to see Christmas lights. On Christmas morning I don’t sleep in. I like to get up early to greet the sun - walking with Beau, our dog, to see the beauty of the early morning. Then we have a relaxing breakfast and a leisurely morning before we open presents. It’s just me and Jen and our dog Beau and cat Tuzi. Our pets actually get pretty excited about opening presents. Beau loves his toys, and Tuzi loves the boxes and wrapping paper. Jen and I usually pick our own presents, and it’s hard waiting to open them if it’s something we’ve been expecting and looking forward to using for a month or more. It’s difficult to relax for the rest of the day, and so usually there’s a project to work on to round out the afternoon before we have a special dinner and see a movie that evening. It’s a nice day. It’s different than the years we would travel a bit and see a lot of family. I usually work right up to Christmas and right after, so it’s great to have a day to relax. As I mentioned at the top, this year I’ll do an online show on Christmas Day of holiday songs I didn’t get to this season as well as other fun winter songs and requests. How about you? How do you spend Christmas Day?

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What have I been up to?

Last week I played for 14 senior facilities. I had one more scheduled, but they had to cancel with a Covid quarantine. That’s the first one this season that has had an outbreak bad enough to isolate their residents in their rooms. I hope they get it under control soon so they can have some semblance of a normal Christmas. I did have a couple others with Covid that were requiring masks, but they didn’t have to isolate their folks. It’s a hard time to be dealing with illness.

My Wednesday online show was Christmas hymns, and it was just as special as I hoped it would be. There is something so familiar and sweet about the old Christmas hymns that we’ve known all our lives. I think everyone in the audience enjoyed it too.

Friday night I played Christmas songs on the guitar for the Garden of the Gods Club, and it was really fun making up clever arrangements for so many Christmas songs.

Sunday morning I also played at the Garden of the Gods Club for brunch, and it was just as special. Some of the Christmas songs are really fun to noodle on! Santa’s and Mrs Claus were there for the kids, and I had a nice group of appreciative folks.

My Sunday show was playing favorites and requests, and there were some great Christmas songs we finally got to. I love playing for these folks so much!

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What am I up to this week?

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Christmas leftovers - holiday songs we still haven’t gotten to out of a list of 200 or so plus other winter and seasonal favorites. If you’re looking for something to do on Christmas Day evening then tune in and enjoy!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs playing instrumental guitar. It’s such a beautiful place with views to die for. Make reservations now if you’d like to come. 888-994-3156

Sunday morning 11-2 I’m also at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs playing for brunch. It’s a wonderful place to bring visiting guests for a really nice time. 888-994-3156 for reservations. 

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be a little different for this Sunday. I’m going to do my favorite songs from this year along with my favorite sunrise pictures as the backdrop too. Come on out and hear some neat tunes with stunning views. 

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That’s it for Christmas week. I hope you have an amazing Christmas, and I should also tell you that I’ll be doing a New Year’s Eve online show 7-8:45 in case you’re making plans for that night. 

Best holiday wishes,  

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Christmas leftovers

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, December 25, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, December 27, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing instrumental guitar tunes

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Sunday, December 29, 10 am to 2 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, December 29, 7-8:45 pm mountain time