What in the world is a mondegreen? It’s when you mis-hear words, phrases, lyrics.

Here’s an example: Creedence Clearwater Revival’s There’s a bad moon on the rise is heard by some as There’s a bathroom on the right.

With this nod to the 25th of the month, here’s an August Christmas story.

John has always been a singer. Even as a little kid, our middle child would belt out songs at the top of his lungs.

Even when he didn’t know we were listening, we were. At Christmas time when he was four or so, we got him a singalong book – one of those thick-paged volumes with a music chip, so you could push the color-coded button and sing along at full volume.

One evening at bath time, John was in his room, perched on his bed. Just as I entered, he burst into a holiday song:

Jolly old St. Nicholas

Lean your ear this way

Don’t you tell a single soul

What I’m going to say

Christmas Eve is coming soon

Now you dirty old man …

Well. There was nothing else to do, of course, but back out of the room so I could laugh. At the top of my lungs.

Nowadays, John and Cameron create father-son duets.

Young Cameron has produced a mondegreen or two in his lifetime, too. He likes to watch the weather forecast with Gary and proclaim: Papaw! There’s an 80 percent chance of participation!

By the way, everything you’ve heard about grandchildren is spot on – they make every day Christmas Day.

Hope your Christmas in August was a good one.

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