Elvis and Georgia

I find Georgia in the strangest of places. She sends me constant reminders that she is always around. This week in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, I found Georgia in Elvis's "Blue Christmas" of all places.

I was driving all over southern Maryland, store after store, grocery shopping for Christmas dinner, present hunting for five little kids and a husband, stocking stuffers, and Christmas deliveries, all with the radio station on playing 24/7 Christmas music. And then I heard "The King" crooning his famous "Blue Christmas" through the speakers in my car. I started singing along, trying to mimic Elvis's unique sound. And then I had this sudden flashback to my IU days with Georgia.

We were at a Christmas party at Rebecca (Naegle) Nichols's apartment. She had a karaoke machine, and we were each taking turns singing along to famous Christmas songs. And Georgia, in her true fashion, picked the song that least fit her angelic voice - Elvis's "Blue Christmas." But she didn't just sing it, she asked a friend (I forget who) to lay down on the ground while Georgia sat on her tummy, and the friend made her legs kick and dance around like they were Georgia's. All the while, Georgia was singing like Elvis.

We were all laughing hysterically then, and I began to laugh while driving in my car. And then I realized the words I was singing along to that Georgia sang so many years before:

"I’ll have a blue Christmas without you.
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here with me.

And when the blue snowflakes start falling
That’s when those blue memories start calling.
You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue Christmas."

I suddenly began to miss her so much, and thought how true those silly lyrics were as they applied to my sweet Georgia. I thought about her and my other wonderful Quarter Notes and all of those Christmases we played together all over SLC - Beehive House, Temple Square, YACP, rest homes, sacrament meetings, weddings, and the list goes on. My heart ached - but only for a moment, because I realized something else. We might be having a "Blue Christmas" without her, but she is most definitely having a pure, holy, and beautiful "Christmas of white" where she is right now, just like silly old Elvis said. And because of the birth of that little baby in a manger, Christmas without Georgia is most definitely a sweeter thing because of the Atonement and the Resurrection.

I think Georgia sent me that reminder through Elvis's words on the radio this week as a little Christmas present from heaven. I find her in the strangest of places, and yet it makes life so enjoyable that way.

Thanks Georgia. I love you and miss you so much. Merry Christmas, dear friend!