What happened to the mall and door to door carolers?

When I was a kid we caroled every year around this time at the local mall, and when I became older and worked we caroled in our store where Hubby and I met as seniors in high school, Ohrbach’s that lived from 1923-1987. I was first as a salesgirl in the children’s department and then a second floor, floor manager, but I modeled there and I was even an elf at this time of the year there; giving out balloons to the little ones. Hubby worked in the men’s wear department, 1967-1969 then I moved on to Lord and Taylor’s through college and work study programs and after all the way through our engagement and wedding and even expecting our first son, being eight and half months pregnant!
Sadly, Ohrbach’s demised was in 1987 and that is how it is stated in its historical bio. Lord and Taylor’s is still quite alive and I have been recently informed they are opening a store in Montreal, ala our neighbors who live there all summer long.
The door to door caroling was something I seem to vaguely recall as well, probably from scouts.
Both Hubby and I were in choir in our schools, me from fifth through eleventh grade, since I worked after school in my senior year I could no longer do it, since rehearsals were then… Ahhh memories!
Being a Jew I suppose many are surprised to know that I knew all of the most famous carols, but Irving Berlin was one too and he wrote ‘White Christmas’, and ‘Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire’ was written by Mel Torme; also one of my people!
And I am sure there are many others too…that I have forgotten, but you get the idea.
At this time of year we all come together and that’s what is the most important thing to remember faith, family and caring for our fellow man and woman is what the season should be built on in the coming year, but to tell you the truth it should be all year long that we practice this… don’t you think?
Hanukkah and Christmas overlap this year which is kinda nice I think when that happens...
In our home since our boys are grown and not going to be here and we live in the tiniest place ever we have minimal decorations, thus the wreath with, ‘Season’s Greetings’ on our front door, a similar season’s greeting on our foyer mirror and when we get a wee bit closer to the holiday, our Menorah, from my parents, and a miniature Christmas tree from Hubby’s Mom’s friend, Ellie, a woman who was an Irish Catholic married also to a Jew (the reverse of Hubby and me), how we miss her, a truly good hearted fine woman and those emblems of the holidays will take their delegated places on our open bar from our kitchen to our living room… festive and easy breezy, and respecting both of our faiths.

I cannot reiterate my feelings enough how I miss the joy of having family close and here, but to my own sadness of memories no longer… be your own family for the season bring people you know into your fold of your homes warmth, yep even here in Florida!
But I am referring to your warmth of heart and joy of caring.

On that disconnected, not so much, dissertation of mine allow me to be the first to wish you a very happy good night and ask you to kindly to count all your blessings and share all those overages and we will too!

And next time please be here or be square, ya hear?

PS And SING all those childhood favorites! Maybe try going from door to door?