A TROMBONE FOR CHRISTMAS: WHAT WAS YOUR MOST CHERISHED OR MEMORABLE GIFT AS AN ADULT?
Join me in a little bit of nostalgic remembrance about your favorite, most remembered, or most cherished Christmas gift that you received as an adult. Mine was a vintage silver King trombone made by the H.N. White Musical Instrument Company located in Cleveland, Ohio. Marilyn bought the trombone for me from eBay, and it was rumored to have been played by a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. There is also a story behind the trombone.
I received the trombone many years ago when we still visited my parents in Wintersville, Ohio, for Christmas. When we returned home, the trombone was nowhere to be found; although Marilyn had been notified that it had been delivered. It goes without saying that she was frantic. It was not until four days later that our neighbor across the street finally delivered the trombone to us. It had been left at his condo either by mistake or on purpose since we were not home. The trombone sounds wonderful, and I enjoy playing Christmas songs on it at this time of the year.
For some reason, the Christmas season always makes me think of the big bands of the 1940’s and the fabulous ballrooms that they played in around the country. Of course, the recording of holiday songs was not as prevalent then as it is now. Glenn Miller only recorded one song that has become associated with the holidays during his lifetime, and that was a version of Jingle Bells, which became a number five hit in 1941. The recording featured Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ernie Caceres, and the Modernaires. Benny Goodman also recorded the song, which reached number eighteen on the charts in 1951. It is interesting that, although the song Jingle Bells has become associated with the Christmas season, I recently heard that it was originally entitled “The One Horse Open Sleigh” and was intended to be a Thanksgiving song.
Please share your favorite, most memorable, or most cherished Christmas gift that you received as an adult. Let us celebrate together!
Barbara Marie Minney is a transgender woman, poet, writer, speaker, and quiet activist. She is a retired attorney and originally from West Virginia. Now based in Tallmadge, Ohio, her first collection of poetry entitled “If There’s No Heaven” was the winner of the 2020 Poetry Is Life Book Award and is available at www.poetryislifepublishing.com. Follow her at www.barbaramarieminneypoetry.com.
