Xmasdancemed Not every moment of the Christmas season is holly jolly. There is always a good opportunity to let darker thoughts in as we stress over financial problems, miss loved ones who are no longer with us, and reflect on another year slipping into history. It’s okay to acknowledge that sadness during the dark times of the calendar year and to share in that sadness with others. What is missing from the unrelenting optimism of the consumer-version of Christmas is the opportunity for a wistful slow dance to a sad song with a loved one and sharing memories of what has troubled us this year. Without it, there’s not much hope for hope, is there?

Christmas–which always seemed to me as if American consumer culture wanted it to be a Spring holiday with its message of joy and birth and excitement– is an ideal holiday for the winter. Winter and the end of the calendar year bring about a natural melancholy. But, there is hope, whether you celebrate the arrival of the solstice or a child, that the dark times are nearly over; the sun will return soon enough.

It is no accident that so many cultures and religions take this moment of the year to have a celebration that is based on the promise that these dark times cannot last. Next year, each variation of the winter feast and ritual tells us, all our troubles will be miles away. It’s a nice thought and I buy into it completely.

It is probably why Judy Garland’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little HappyChristmasChristmas is such an unlikely popular holiday song. Let’s face it, the song is laced with depression, but also built on hope. It’s worth noting that the original version was much more dark with the opening line of “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last.” Take that pleasant thought to bed, little Margaret O’Brien. Instead, the directors of the movie asked for a re-write that– while sad– might still inspire thoughts toward hanging tinsel rather than oneself. There must be hope, after all.

It’s little wonder the song gained such favor with American GIs during World War II. While many holiday tunes revel in a manufactured optimism and act as if life is always a scene from a Currier and Ives, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas acknowledges that not every winter provides a wonderland. I can respect that. The soldiers could, too, I suppose. But, the song also provides hope that the nostalgic memories of yesterday might be revived or, at least, that better days are promised to us ahead.

For a variety of reasons my thoughts (as likely your own) turn dark this holiday season. As we pull ourselves out of the rubble of the economic trainwreck of 2008-09 and as our thoughts turn to the people we miss, I think its perfectly okay to celebrate a holiday built around the idea that we’ll muddle through somehow. Otherwise, what’s the point?

So, here’s this week’s Song of the Week– Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis (not the more “cheerful” lyrics rewritten later for Frank Sinatra). As a bonus, I’ve also provided a link to an interview NPR’s Terry Gross conducted with Hugh Martin, the song’s creator, on Fresh Air a few years ago.

Knoxified

Thanks to the good folks over at Knoxify this morning for sharing some photo love. They’ve featured my “O Little Town” photo (that I previously spotlighted here) from my Flickr set as one of their “View of Knoxville” featured photos. That’s a nice way to start the day.

Why don’t you head over and explore Knoxify today? There’s usually a good conversation or three going on.

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Since last week’s Song of the Week introduced the holiday season, I thought akroydsantaI’d keep in the spirit of the season and seek out another favorite Christmas-themed tune.

I am ashamed to admit that somehow I had missed hearing Fairytale of New York until Wayne Bledsoe played it for me last year on “All Over the Road,” his WDVX radio show. Although I had been a fan of the late Kirsty McColl since my own college radio days as a disc jockey at WUTK (then known as “New Rock 90″), somehow this gem had escaped my attention.

But, since being introduced to it, I find myself drawn into its sometimes tragic and sometimes celebratory tale of a couple torn by their shattered dreams for each other and themselves. As a bonus, it’s the only Christmas song I know of that begins with a trip to the drunk tank.

But this is no drunken sing-along novelty tune (like Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from the Family”). Instead, I find some sweetness hidden beneath the ugly truth in the song. The Christmas season can bring out the worst in any of us while still inspiring us to better things.

At Christmas I can’t help but feel inadequate. I worry that I haven’t accomplished enough in the year or that I can’t provide enough. “I could have been someone,” as the male lead complains in the song. I hope when he hears his partner’s response– “So could have anyone”– he hears it not as a mean-spirited barb, but as a sharp no-nonsense “snap out of it” reminder to stop with the self-pity. For, as drunk and disorderly, as insulting and rude as Fairytale’s couple may seem, I can’t help but believe they still love each other. Maybe that’s just the hopeless Christmas romantic in me.

So, here’s the Pogues with special guest poguesKirsty Maccoll singing “Fairytale of New York” as this week’s holiday-themed Song of the Week. As a bonus, I should point out that today also marks the birthday of Terry Woods of the Pogues.

So happy Christmas/I love you baby/I can see a better time/When all our dreams come true.

O Little Town…

I spent part of a cold and foggy morning yesterday walking around downtown taking photos for possible use on the new Ackermann PR web site.

Naturally, I also took a few photos for my own amusement such as this shot of reflected Gay Street storefronts captured inside a Christmas ornament.

O Little Town

You can see a sampling of my recent exploration of downtown photo opportunities on my Flickr pages.

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In my quest to make Vikings the new vampires of 2010, please allow me to submit the following evidence from my Flickr pages of yet another reason why Vikings trump vampires.

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Vikings would recognize Santa as a legitimate Scandinavian neighbor while Vampires…well, I guess the picture tells you what you need to know.

2986011205_ef2bd5015c_oThe song of the week is a day late this week, but there’s a perfectly good explanation. I had to visit the North Pole yesterday to get some last minute instructions from my seasonal boss– Santa Claus.

You see, for the past ten years, I’ve been moonlighting as one of Santa’s helpers in Knoxville. I happily volunteer as the City of Knoxville’s Santa Claus at selected events during Knoxville’s “Christmas in the City” celebration.

Typically, this means I don the big red suit of joy in October for the city’s press conference announcing the upcoming events for November and December. Then I, along with my ever-patient beautiful bride, take on the role of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the annual Regal Celebration of Lights in downtown Knoxville on the Friday after Thanksgiving and later in December at the Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee. (Although, this year, we will not be helping out the Claus’ at Chilhowee because of a scheduling conflict. One of Santa’s other helpers will be filling in this year.) I used to play Santa at the Sea Ray Christmas Boat parade until that part of the holiday celebration was discontinued.

I always say that helping Santa is the closest many of us can ever come to knowing what it feels like to be a rock star. When you step out into public there is a sudden halt to activity around you as everyone turns to look your way. People shout, wave, and try to touch you. Some rush forward to you 2986010949_5768e1ffac_mand cry out your name. There is cheering and a few may lose bladder control. The psychic wave of cheer that rushes over you is completely worth the hours of picking up and putting down toddlers from my lap and the morning-after stiffness and aching muscles that accompany an evening such as last night’s celebration.

And, so in the spirit of the arrival of the Christmas season, this week’s song of the week is a reminder that Santa is on his way.

cleesevikingWhile I usually rely on historical trivia to guide me in choosing a song of the week, this week’s selection is inspired by a series of comments I made this week on Twitter.

As you may know, popular culture is awash in vampires lately. With the debut of yet another movie based on yet another vampire-themed young adult novel, we are confronted yet again with the bloodsuckers.

Hey, don’t get me wrong. I like a good vampire story, too. But, selfishly, I see no personal profit potential in the vampire trend. By the time I would be able to get anything produced for publication, I fear the trend will have crept back into its coffin waiting to be revived in another decade or so.

I expressed on Twitter the desire to create a new trend that I could cash in on. Zombies are starting to pick up serious momentum, but a true trendsetter is able to look beyond the immediate needs of the consumer and anticipate the next big thing. Thus, I envision a future trend for vikings.

Yes, vikings. And after slogging through a few examples of Viking metal on Last.fm (yes, such a genre exists), I was discouraged that I might not ever find a Viking song worthy of selection for this week’s song of the week.

But, then, happily I was reminded of the perfect song for this week’s selection by Aunt B (who, incidentally, is one of my favorite bloggers to read on a regular basis. Check out her blog, Tiny Cat Pants, as soon as you can).

And, so without further ado, I bring you a Viking-edition of the song of the week: Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”

And, as an added bonus I bring you (courtesy of R. Neal’s reminder in the comments of my Volhalla post) the fury of the Viking kittens. Be prepared for pillaging. They are your overlords. (The usual location at vikingkittens.com doesn’t seem to be working, so I’ve liked to a different location for now.)

A Decade of Change

old_mac512Though I am tempted to launch into my decennial argument that the decade doesn’t end until we reach 2011, everyone is already starting to put out retrospective lists of the current decade.

By way of Michael Silence over at No Silence Here, I have been reviewing the Webby Awards’ list of the ten most influential internet moments of the decade. Mostly, it got me thinking about how the work I do has been affected by the ongoing evolution in digital communications and social media.iphone

I’d like to write a more in-depth blog post article about this topic, but I need your help. Why not share some thoughts with me on how the internet has changed the way you work (or even your occupation entirely) in the past ten years in the comments section. Feeling shy? Feel free to send me a note to blog (at) shanerhyne.com

I’ve been negligent in thanking some blogging friends for giving my new blogging project a shout out on their blogs and elsewhere, so allow me to rectify that situation now.

First, thanks to Michael Silence over at the Knoxville News Sentinel where he blogs at No Silence Here (and allows me to contribute as my schedule allows). He included a nice mention of the blog in his Sunday column in the paper’s printed edition earlier this month.

Also, R. Neal– one of East Tennessee’s great bloggers and host of Knoxviews.com, shared nice words about my blog (and Rikki Hall’s wonderful new blog, too) and even included it in his live-stream in the sidebar.

Michael and R. Neal are two of the leading lights in blogging in East Tennessee (and I’d put them up there with high national rankings, too). In addition to providing me with entertaining reading for several years, they’ve also been actively encouraging me to get back to blogging full time. Of course, this all puts some amount of pressure on me to make sure I work hard to continue to earn their recommendations. Thanks for the support, guys!

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The Goddess of Autumn

She Wears Autumn in Her Hair

Today, I feel like featuring a photo from my Flickr pages. This is a current favorite of mine from my own recent photography. I took this picture in October of Ruth (aka My Beautiful Bride) as she was playing with leaves along a scenic overview point on the Cherohala Skyway.

I call this one “The Goddess of Autumn.”

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