Before the snoweth fall, before the jingle of bells, before the tree lighteth and sparkle, and the jolly call of laughter and jelly rings out on a winter’s (or summer’s _— depending on your equatorial locale) night, there is a telling of story.

From choirs of melody echoing the life in days of yore. Igniting merry memories with every note for the old, or laying new ones for the young—and hopefully, still for the young of heart.

The holidays are filled with story.

In the poems of song, the classic movies, and the books—from children’s picture to adult series tomes.

So many kinds of stories of the unique encounters of the holiday kind.

A change of focus, the divergent of paths – from the mundane of the everyday to ones covered with snow and hope and love and giving. Of fantasy and excitement. Paths that could gain us five pounds from sugar-glazed indulgence or a completely new perspective on life. Forced encounters with family, for building or destruction. So many ends and beginnings.

Gifts of opportunity.

Of life.

Just think about your favorite holiday story.

Does it involve a clatter and you jumping out of bed to see what…the heck it was?

Or something about angels, bells and wings…and Zuzu’s petals?

Maybe explosions and walking over a whole lot of broken glass while barefoot…and handling divorce. (R.I.P. Alan Rickman.)

Do your favorites include Santa doing something naughty or nice? Total opposites falling in love in an Elizabeth and Darcy, angry sort of way? Or maybe just a good old-fashion mystery, full of blood and mayhem, that’s resolved when someone is moved by a good burst of Christmas Spirit.

Think, remember, reach for your favorites now.

Pull them off the shelves and out of memory because now is the time to revisit with eggnog and a sigh of holiday contentment.

Now is the time to get your holiday reading on!!

And if you want to find some new holiday favorites, then you have come to the right place.

I can’t wait to go shopping with you, with the intent to give ideas lavishly with an application of bows, ribbon and tinsel that would qualify as an obscene amount.

See you next week where we find our next Favorite HOLIDAY Book.

Until then, bring on the fruit cake!