Judy, Already?

I know you’re all going to hate me for this. But whenver I hear Judy Garland sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me in Saint Louis, I want to weep hysterically. I have absolutely no defense against holiday sentiment, and despite the endless complaints and articulate denunciations of the crass commercialization of Christmas, it’s like I’ve been waiting all year long for Judy’s velvety voice to assure me that from now on our troubles will be miles away while we make the yule-tide gay.