Champagne with bubbles
White popcorn with truffles
Giant sparkling diamonds and warm friendly muzzles
Flowers and kisses and Paris in Spring
These are a few of my favorite things
Lattes with eggnog during the holiday season
Galette de Rois and marzipan
and Project Runway Thursday evenings
Starlight and moon light and songs Tom Petty sings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the job sucks
And I’ve gained five pounds
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
As the holidays come to a close and the Christmas music stations start to retire, I hear again Roger and Hammerstein’s 1959 classic My Favorite Things. Seemingly, the only time I hear the various renditions of this beloved masterpiece is during the holiday season. Interestingly enough, My Favorite Things was not intended to be a holiday classic even though there are lyrical references of sleigh bells, snowflakes, silver-white winters and brown paper packages tied up with strings.
In 1961, two years after the song’s debut in Roger and Hammerstein’s Broadway production – The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews performed the song on a Garry Moore television holiday special. It however was not cemented as a Christmas classic until 1964 when it was included in The Jack Jones Christmas Album.
Emotions evoke each time I hear the song. I reminisce about the The Sound of Music, The Movie released in 1965. Maria – Julia Andrews plays a young Austrian woman studying to become a nun in Salzburg just before World War II erupts. She is sent to be a governess for the seven children of the wealthy, retired, widowed Captain von Trapp. Bringing her positive personality and special talents, she teaches the family a way to survive sadness, loss, and trouble through song, one of which is My Favorite Things.
Oprah too was inspired by the song and in the mid 1990’s she launched her Favorite Things Program during a Thanksgiving week broadcast surprising the audience with her must have gifts for the season. Sometimes inviting special groups – Educators from across the country in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina volunteer workers in 2005, the annual program not only become the hottest ticket in television and almost impossible to get, but also was the catalyst causing sales of the coveted products endorsed and featured to skyrocket. Per Winfrey in Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things. Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes. Season 1. Episode 8. February 4, 2011. OWN.
The things of “Favorite Things” is the least of the experience. It’s sharing that moment with 300 other people, acknowledging that surprise and fantastical, sensational, wonderful, happy things can still occur in your life.
I think that we all have (and should remember) our own collection of favorite things. Perhaps some time should be taken to acknowledge what those might be for you. Replace the words of this iconic 
song with your favorite things, making a more personalized version of your own to sing it to yourself when you are feeling down and remember “...that surprise and fantastical, sensational, wonderful, happy things can still occur in your life.”
During 2019, I will embark on a series of shorter pieces that will feature My Favorite Things. The series will follow the alphabet, hence there will be 26 postings throughout the year, though they may not necessarily be in alphabetical order.
So, when a letter is featured in the title above, it’s an indicator of something that I love – a treasure, a find, perhaps something that may even blow your mind. It will definitely be a favorite people, place, or thing of mine!
Fashion and art and baguettes from France
The Nutcracker and Phantom and Captain Underpants
The joy that down pillows and comforters bring
These are a few of my favorite things
Bordeaux and Rosé
Dungenous Crab during season
Fruitecakes and snowflakes and buying shoes for no reason
Unique special friendships and all that they bring
These are a few of my favorite things
When the job sucks
And I’ve gained five pounds
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
P.S. Wishing you a most wonderful 2019 full of magical surprises, wonderful things, and special times with those that you love. Bonne Année!
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Lovely post, Sandra!!! And a nice reminder!!! When I need a pick me up, I will think of how toasty my flannel sheets are. They are one of my favorite things. 🙂
Thank you for the thought producing and timely post. I have started my list and found it a good way to count my blessings.
My mother died some 3 days after you made this post. I have some very favorite things I will fondly remember but never see again.
So thanks Sandrella for reminding us all to embrace those favorites while we can.
“Yeah and it’s over before you know it. It all goes by so fast”
Hold onto those memories of your mother Glenn! I think the lyrics from Tom Petty is timely and apropos “…and it’s over before you know it. It all goes by so fast.”