BUCKING THE SYSTEM: CHRISTMAS TUNES, FROM GLADYS KNIGHT TO 'O HOLY NIGHT'

The Zellars and Buck families started getting into the Christmas spirit early this year.

This isn't unusual because Christmas is our favorite time of year. It's all about family and religion and love, themes that should always make people happy.

As I've told you before, we go all out for Christmas. The decorations, which came out of the attic right after Thanksgiving, are only a part of our Christmas preparations. There's also the theme music that we sing spontaneously throughout the Christmas season to get ourselves ready for the occasion.

That's right, we're carolers. We actually enjoy Christmas songs and can often be heard this time of the year humming them under our breath or belting them out at the top of our lungs.

I'm sure my co-workers are tired of hearing my impromptu performances of "Up on the Housetop" and "O Holy Night" during the work week, but so far they've been nice enough to keep their comments to themselves.

Not that it matters, because I'm always going to sing while I work. Right now they're stuck with Christmas carols until the first of the year, when I'll bring back the R&B and jazz.

My mom got the ball rolling this year when she broke out her favorite Gladys Knight and the Pips Christmas CD. I remember a time when I'd run screaming down the hallway whenever she turned that CD on, which seemed to happen at least daily. Eventually, however, it grew on me, much like my dad's Merle Haggard album eventually did so many years ago.

It may have been Mom who brought the Christmas music to the forefront, but it's my oldest son, Jerry, who's bringing the music to life this year. I am receiving the most holiday cheer from listening to Jerry, 3, sing Christmas carols.

He's already demonstrating a marked preference and just a little talent as a singer. And his enthusiasm more than makes up for the fact that, like his mother, he has a problem with lyrics.

I think I most like his rendition of "Jingle Bells," whether it's the bouncy version everyone knows or the bluesy, hip-rockin' version that could only have been performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

He really gets into the groove if his Granny is singing with him. They even manage a little choreography on the side. But the lyrics often are lost on these two. Mom just plain forgets to sing, while Jerry adds his own 3-year-old touch to them.

Dashing to the snow,

On a one-horse hopin slate

Over the hills we grow

Laughting all the way

Ha Ha Ha

Bells on brob-trailed rings

Breaking spririts fight

Wrought fun it is to laugh and sing

A swearing song tonight.

Oh!

Well, he gets the rest of it right.

Many other songs on Jerry's hit list are similarly rewritten, but I find no need to correct him. I'd rather accept the imperfect lyrics and bask in his enjoyment of the songs.

It's funny, but sometimes we have to argue over who's going to sing. Just when I'm in a mood to hear Jerry's version of "Frosty the Snowman," he's telling me to "put the tape in so you can sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.'"

Who wouldn't love a child that likes to hear his mommy sing?

But it's not just the secular Christmas songs Jerry enjoys. He's equally happy to rewrite "Away in the Manger" and "Sleep, Baby, Sleep," and every night he sings me a version of the birth of Jesus that I honestly think he made up himself.

I love my child, but this song sounds awful. However, I happily listen to it because it lets me know he understands that Christmas isn't all about Santa Claus and toys.

Sometimes the message really is in the music.