#thereen

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I think it's about time I bring back a little segment I call Songs and Words. In case you don't remember this, I tell the story behind a song along with the lyrics, and just in time for the holidays, I give you "Curse U Xmas!"

Before I start, just a little background about why the title is spelled the way it is.  While I don't normally discuss religion, I've found that some people have wondered why I left Christ out of Christmas and opted for the spelling "Xmas" instead. Long story short, I'm a devout Catholic, and I just felt that the words "Curse" and "Christ" did not belong in the same sentence, especially with the former directed at the latter. And there you have that. And I spelled "you" with just a letter U to go with Xmas, since that is incorrect as well, and also to be more like Prince.

If you're not one for drama, just a warning: it gets dramatic. Here goes!

Years ago I had a girlfriend(the songs are always about a girl, huh?), and needless to say, I was smitten. For four short months, I thought I had found the one.  Oh, love. Love love love. Lovey love. 

I am originally from a city called Laredo, TX, a city in which the weather is a fickle pickle and can be hot and dry as a desert one day, then get totally rainy the next, then nice, then ugly again, and so on.  Winter is never really the winter most people picture.  For we who are used to the heat of Laredo, we start throwing on the jackets when the thermometer hits 70. Winter usually stays around the 50's and sometimes 40's, and sooooometimes below that. And if it actually does get to freezing temperatures, schools are closing and everyone stays indoors, so needless to say, when the temperature hit 30 and below that Christmas Eve, the world was in turmoil.

I decided to brave the cold, for love. Oh, love.  Love love love.  "We'll go to my favorite place, the movies, then exchange presents, and it'll be oh so special! Oh, Christmas! Maybe a hot cup of Cocoa at a local coffee shop, since I don't drink coffee but it will look like I do and then I'll seem trendy! It'll all be so perfect!"

Gift exchange was one sided. At first, I was told that I'd get it on Christmas, and not Christmas Eve, and then that I'd get it later. "Who cares?" I thought, "Who needs a present when I've got love! Oh love! Oh Christmas!"

I remember watching a really sad movie that day, but I thought, "Things will get happier, after all, it's Christmas! And we're together! And it's oh so perfect!"

Then on the way to get my trendy hot cocoa, came the words "Yeahhhh...we need to talk." My heart sank. I knew what those words meant. But it was Christmas, so there was no way that would be happening. It HAD to be something else. Right? RIGHT?

Well needless to say, it wasn't something else.  "You're...dumping me....on...Christmas Eve..?" "Yeaaaahhh. Sorries. But we can still be friends," she said as she drove me home.  Suddenly, the realization that things had not been as perfect as I wanted them to be began to rumble inside me.  Hanging out with the ex more than me, having a weekly dinner with him, sleeping over at her guy friends' apartments, the rumors I was constantly being told about by her family members and friends about something more going on with other guys.  "You're dumping me. On Christmas Eve." "Yeahhhh." "Ok," I said, as my blood boiled, despite the cold that was outside, and for anyone who knows me, a silent "Ok" from me with a blank face is never a good sign. "Ummm...why are you mad?" she asked. "Why am I mad? WHY AM I MAD??" Uh oh. Wrong question. "BECAUSE YOU'RE DUMPING ME!! ON CHRISTMAS EVE!!" It's alright...calm down...it's Christmas, things will get happier.  Wrong.  My eyes water as we approach my house. I look at her and say, "Do me a favor. Don't ever treat another person the way you treated me the past few months." Love was no longer blind at that point.  I get out of the car, and start walking towards my house, the cold is suddenly piercing, and the tears that are welled up in my eyes are causing my vision to be extra blurry. Suddenly, it looks like snowflakes are falling.  "Impossible," I thought. "It never snows in Laredo. Then my mom rushes out the door and yells, "Reennee!! Guess what?? It's snowing!!! Oh..what happened?" I look up and say, "I just got dumped. On Christmas Eve. And now it's snowing." And then a snowflake falls on the tears that started coming down. 

Needless to say, I was a major downer at that year's family ChHere are the lyrics! Enjoy! You can find "Curse U Xmas" along with it's B-side, a cover of "Happy Christmas(War Is Over)" by John Lennon that I did with my good friend Kristelle Martin, on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Rdio, or in the player below!

Merry Christmas to all of you!