Red red ribbons- The Backstory

One of the toughest events in life is losing people we love and hold dear. Many, I'm sure are just like me. We think about our departed loved ones during the holiday season. We remember the laughs and fun times, the warmth, and love we felt. Sometimes the fond memories are chased with tears, and numbing pain in our hearts. Sad Christmas songs like Red Red Ribbons remind us that it's okay to be in our feelings during the holiday season. It's perfectly fine to take some time and remember, reflect, and feel. I know friends and family are well meaning when they say someone that touched your life is in a better place. I've said it before too, but we want the better place to be with us because we feel the void the person left behind.

And let's talk about the triggers. It could be their favorite song comes on. The way someone say's hello or their favorite holiday dish is served. It could be anything really that takes you back to when they were still here. I've been known to seperate myself from the festivities and take a walk or sit on the porch just thinking about how blessed we truly are to be loved by the giants that let us stand on their shoulders. The holiday season is a time to celebrate life and as such, we can celebrate the life of those that meant so much.

When I started writing Red Red Ribbons, I was thinking about my grandpa, and then my uncle. As I continued to write the song I realized it reached way farther than that. There's a line that states: "For all the hearts that came our way, The broken parts that can't be saved

We're all better cuz of you

Believe it.."

What I was saying is that everyone that is no longer here, and has touched us with their friendship, advice, art, music, love.. Everyone who has helped us in this journey of life has made us better. Red Red Ribbons is about them too. I've always heard the saying that "It takes a village". It's usually used to underline the need for support in a child's life. It also takes a "village" if you will to shape adulthood. To continue learning, growing, which in turn, hopefully makes us better people. Red Red Ribbons is a sad Christmas song, but it is also one of gratitude. We're grateful for the experiences had, the lessons learned, and the times we've shared. The good and the character building moments too that have made us who we are and who we will be.

I've included the full lyrics here and am working on a video for the song. I fought back tears when I recorded the songs as you can probably tell. I hope this song gives you the courage to face the loss, and sadness without judgment. You have the right to miss a departed loved one during the holiday. I've been shopping around for telescopes and read here that you can actually name a star after someone and gift it to them. Seriously, a real star. How cool is that! That's what inspired the line: "Remember me I'm in that star.."

I've thought about buying a star. Even, if my Grandpa and uncle are gone, I can still name a star after them. That way, when I look at the sky through my telescope, I can see them shining down on me. :) Check it out on Spotify!