Música de Mi Vida: Diciembre

I think anyone who’s ever lived somewhere where in snows during Christmas would agree that the holidays just aren’t the same without some white fluffy stuff in the air. Just a few weeks ago I was in San José and walked into Starbucks, wearing a tank top and shorts, only to become emotionally overwhelmed by the red cups bedazzled in snowflakes, frosted holiday cookies, and Christmas classics blasting down from the ceiling. It all took me by surprise.

Is it December already?!

I walked up to the cash register and asked for a pumpkin spice latte but was politely declined and offered a seasonal holiday chocolate chip dark cherry mocha instead.

What was happening? PSL season just totally passed me by.

I had to sit down for a minute and grasp the situation. Then, all of the sudden Judy Garland’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas came on and I kinda lost it. I pulled out my computer, dimmed the screen to an appropriate (but not a conspicuous) level of darkness and shrugged down behind the screen and let a few tears go. Judy always gets me I tell ya. All the winter goodness that I would miss out on this year — snow, red wine, baggy sweaters and boots, time with friends and family, skiing, crock-pot cookin’, frosty winter runs, cheese and cracker binge sessions, did I say red wine? — it all just flooded to my mind at once.

Winter, I’ll miss you.

To get to the point, Christmas, and winter months in general, are real weird for me without any snow on the ground. From Wisconsin to California to Colorado snow has always been a part of my life, and always a part of the holiday season. Honestly I didn’t even think I would miss it but here I am, crying about it in Starbucks.

My token Christmas decoration.

Mmmmm summer-y Christmas decorations.

It’s weird though isn’t it? The things you miss when they’re suddenly gone.

While it’s been challenging being away from home during the holidays, I’m actually looking forward to celebrating Christmas for the first time in a country and community different than my own. From what I hear, there’s a lot of food involved.

In light of the holidays and this shift in my traditional celebration, I’m sharing some Christmas songs that are helping me embrace this year’s Spanish-speaking hot and sweaty Costa Rican celebración de Navidad.

And did you know Michael Buble speaks a lick of Español?

Feliz Navidad – Michael Buble ft Thalia

Mi Regalo Favorito – Prince Royce

Me La Gozo Entera – Cheo Feliciano

Donde Esta La Nieve en Navidad – Jon Secada

A Los Santos Reyes – Daniel Santos