The Bo Show

How Do You Celebrate Home?

(Audio and Comment Below)

I have a new holiday tradition, besides putting up my Christmas tree the same night as the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. I always turn on my tree lights as the famous Rockefeller tree is lit up for the first time! I’ve been doing that for seven years now.

But, I attended The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Spectacular last Tuesday at Carnegie Hall. It was perhaps one of the best ways to celebrate the season. The song selection was perfect, ranging from Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” to “The 12 Days of Christmas” where entire sections of the audience were given a specific number to sing (very big hit, and is something they do every year). But, perhaps the song that touched me most was Kenny Loggin’s “Celebrate Me Home.” During this musical number, members of the chorus shared precious moments from their lives… they told stories which celebrated home.

(Reader One) “One of the best Christmas’ was the first time my partner came home with me, and my dad gave him a great big hug.”

(Reader Two) “Christmas… I’ll go home to a farm in southern Missouri. I’ll eat too much, go down to the levee and shoot rifles at floating debris. It’s non-traditional, dangerous… and very butch.”

(Reader Three) “Last year, I decided not to go home for Christmas. But, it didn’t feel right. So, Christmas Eve, I booked a flight, and a few hours later I called my mom. She said, “Oh, are you home from work yet dear?” I said, “Yes, mom, I’m home,” and I rang her bell.”

(Reader Four) “No home, parents gone, I am alone with my dog. But, I got the chorus… the closest thing to family.”

(Reader Five) “It was December 22nd, 1998 – ten years ago. My partner, Eileen and I, were at a White House holiday party in the East Room. It was dizzying to think about all the people who had stood where we were standing. There was music playing, men and women were dancing. So, I asked my partner to dance. She gave me the all too familiar “are you nuts” look. I looked at her, and I said, “No, it’s our house too.” So we did dance. At that moment, both literally and figuratively the White House was ours.”

(Reader Six) “My partner and I are 30 years… have six children, one gay, one interracial, two black and two white. We also have five grandchildren. At Christmastime we open up our apartment, we have a place in Hell’s Kitchen, and we invite anybody who wants or needs a place to be. Sometimes it’s as many as 40 or 50 or 60 people. So, if you’re not doing anything… come on by!”

BO’s Story:

I don’t have a specific story that celebrates home. But, I do have to say Christmas Eve is by far my favorite feeling of “home.” My mom, dad, brother and I – along with Rodman the dog… all get together and have a big family dinner. My mom has the entire house, inside and out decorated, something you’d think only Martha Stewart was capable of.

We have Christmas carols playing – Wink 104’s traditional Christmas – it was a radio station I used to work at. I used to be the disc jockey that would play the carols.

We eat, we laugh… yes, we often argue a bit too… what’s more family-ish than arguing? But, we always feel like home. We snack, drink wine, beer, coffee… and open gifts. If it snows… even better. You can’t beat a Christmas Eve in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania… I recommend it to anyone!

Happy Holidays and please take a moment to celebrate home!