It’s a big word… and I love what it describes. Defined by Carl Jung—“A concept of meaningful coincidences where external events align with inner thoughts/feelings without a direct causal link”. This past week I was doing a lot of remembering those very special connections that are no longer living with me. At the top of my list were my parents and my brothers. Two things will bring up those memories with emotional Intensity. Music or smells…the Christmas season is overflowing with both.
I was driving back from meeting with my PCP at Kaiser. There is nothing like hearing “You are doing really well”. I was listening to the radio on my drive home.
The first song that came up was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” sung by my dad’s all time favorite, Judy Garland. The song was written in 1943. In 2013 on the 70th anniversary of its beginning, NPR did a special on its origin and context. It was a bleak time in our country. WWII was going poorly and the death tolls were climbing. The song was both honest and hopeful… much like my dad. “Someday soon we will all be together if the fates allow” cut deep. I never hear that song that I don’t think of a 22 year—old pilot who was instructing other young pilots on how to fly gliders. In June of 1944, 25% of the glider pilots involved in the Normandy invasion were killed in the first 24 hours. My dad ended up flying copilot on a C-47 supply plane, bringing supplies every day up to the front lines. He made it home.
The second song playing that morning was “Lo How a Rose er Blooming” which was sung at my bother Don’s memorial service by his East High School chorale. Don had toured Europe with them two years prior. They left a space for him in the Baritone section as they sang from the church balcony. No matter in what form I hear that song, Don is with me.
What are the odds on a short drive, that I would hear the two most connecting songs of the season for me? Who knows. There are only about 2000 different Christmas songs that play all month. Christmas Day was beyond low key for us. Thank goodness for FaceTime, which connected us with all our kids and grandkids. But I had already had my own little Christmas miracle in my car, on the radio.
Onward and Upward,
Mark
Lyfting Me Up 