my favorite Christmas song is not exactly a Christmas song at all.

i first heard it sitting in the back of a old parrot green datsun pick-up with a weathered blanket rolled up for a pillow behind my back, watching the stars.  while, like an impromptu bass line, the rhythmic crashing of the waves on the sand sang along.

as did the boy (he whistled along actually)
sitting next to the girl i was that night

who became a man

who became my husband

and who then became the father of my children.  now how cool is that?

‘mr. tanner’ can be found on “harry chapin’s greatest hits” or here sung live.