No. 934 – Your Own Special Way

Performer: Genesis

Songwriter: Mike Rutherford

Original Release: Wind and Wuthering

Year: 1976

Definitive Version: Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992, 2000

Through my college years, I developed a Christmas-shopping routine. At Wabash, on the last day of exams, I’d stop at Castleton Square Mall on the northeast part of town and do my shopping during the day and drive home and arrive in time to go out with Beth. When I was at Northwestern, I maintained the tradition.

But in 1986, I had one particular gift in mind for Beth. Beth enjoyed elegant and old-fashioned things, so I thought a good idea (among other things in mind) would be a perfume atomizer. I looked for one in Chicago a little bit but figured I would have better luck at Castleton. No such luck.

When I got home, Scott, Jin and I got together for a shopping outing and went to several places in Columbus. At the time, Scott had just discovered the in-between period of Genesis—the time in between when Peter Gabriel left and when Genesis became the power-pop trio that had become one of the biggest selling bands of the Eighties. So we had Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering on the tape player during that whole trip.

I don’t remember where all we went, but I’m pretty sure it would’ve included trips to Northland (now gone) and Westland (more or less gone) malls. I think we also went through Clintonville and Ohio State. (We had to make a trip to Magnolia Thunderpussy records, of course). There was little doubt I’d find the atomizer I was desperately seeking.

Alas, doubt turned into certainty which turned into luck and then the finality of it all: There was no atomizer to be had, at least on this shipping trip. The conclusion led to my dejected sentiment, which became the mantra of that Christmas and subsequent Christmases for a few years after: I’m not in the Christmas spirit. (For full effect, repeat as Scroogifically morosely as you can.)

So … would Christmases forever be ruined—would I always and forever be not in the Christmas spirit—by my inability to find just the right gift for my girlfriend in 1986? Tune in again next time, kiddies. Same bat time, same bat channel …