The Mark Evanier Christmas Story

From time to time in this here parts, I will post something by my pal Mark Evanier or have a link to send you to his great site.  If I only posted one thing by Mark, though, it would be this.  It's not only probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, piece he's written on his website (which is saying a lot), but it's one of the finest holiday articles I've read, period.  Not just because the story is so wonderful, but also because the writing is.  I've probably read it a dozen times, and I find it as terrific and moving and funny each time.  Though the first time was the best.  If this is yours, lucky you.  If you've read it before...well, still, lucky you.  

It's a tale about a holiday-time encounter Mark had at the Farmers Market in Los Angeles that involved Mel Tormé,  Every year Mark posts the story on his site -- and every year I link to it.  And across the Internet other people post it, too, though not always giving Mark credit, and sometimes even taking credit themselves.  Anyway, yesterday was the day it got posted on Mark's site.  That makes the season all official now and 'fa la la.

So, if you've never read it, do yourself a huge holiday favor -- or a favor in general, because it will just make you feel good, and head on over to Mark's website and read it here.  And if you've already read it, you know how wonderful it is, and do yourself a favor (holiday or otherwise) and read it again.  And again.  

(I have to admit, another reason I love this piece is because my mother went to high school with Mel Torme, at Hyde Park High, in Chicago.  I had a chance to have a nice, brief conversation with him about that when he worked on Naked Gun 2-1/2 when I was the unit publicist on the film.)

And with that aside, from July 9, 1999, click here to read the tale.

And then after you finish reading it -- now, read it first.  This will all make sense, trust me -- come back here and watch this video below of Mel Tormé singing the song he co-wrote with Bob Wells, "The Christmas Song."