Twenty eight minutes and thirty seconds of joy

I have a special affinity for the Holiday Story Time on WRBH.  During the three weeks we air Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa stories in place of the regular midday short stories, I make a point of staying at my desk in order to absorb a little of the peace and good cheer everyone is singing about during the season (and that I have so little of, being the frantic procrastinator that I am).  Originally, the special holiday stories were a way to lure local celebrities in to read their favorite holiday tales and garner a wider listening audience along the way, but it soon turned into so much more than that because of the simple nature of the stories themselves. Regardless of the reader, the stories speak of the universal longing we all share for a happy, loving world.  Just hearing Leah Chase’s sweet voice describing St. Peter in The Littlest Angel, or listening to how Cameron Gamble’s emotions get the best of him towards the end of A Christmas Memory,  or marveling at how all of the versions of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (whether read by Bobby Hebert, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Rose, or Mitch Landrieu) are singular and unique, makes me aware of what the human voice can do to spread the holiday spirit.  On December 25th, we will replay every story throughout the day.  Tune in to hear the joy.