This was part two of our Christmas jam. The usual suspects were there: Chris, Nathan, Arlene, John, Vin, Ken, Cris and Tom. We did a bunch of standards we had done the previous session: Blue Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful (including a verse in Latin), Silent Night (including a verse in German), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (including a verse in Albanian), and The Chipmunk Song. (Just kidding about singing Rudolph in Albanian.)

Then there was Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives), Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (an awkward blend of Springsteen and the traditional version), Run Run Rudolph (the Chuck Berry rocker), Here Comes Santa Claus, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, We Three Kings/God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen (Barenaked Ladies), Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms), O Holy Night (try hitting that last high note), Winter Wonderland and Auld Lang Syne. (I used to think this song was called Old Lang's Eye.)

Having exhausted every conceivable Christmas song in the book, we then resorted to the theme song to All in the Family. Arlene closed the proceedings with Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

You're going to go to at least two more holiday gatherings this year. Someone might say, "Boy, wouldn't it be great if we had a ukulele player here?" (You never know.) Be prepared! Have your instrument and some sheet music and spread the Gospel according to Uke.

-- Dan.