Christmas had always been a special time for me. The anticipation of Christmas day – decorating the tree and house, buying presents, beautiful food and spending time with family. But over time, Christmas has lost its sparkle. While I still appreciate the day with people I love – it no longer holds the same energy as years before. The excitement has been replaced more with a time for reflection and a longing for times gone by. Grief has woven her darkness through the tapestry of life with my brother Carl’s passing after a car accident, precious pets transitioning, and long-term relationship endings. I haven’t put my Christmas tree up for the past five years. Each Christmas I tell myself – ‘next year.’ Next year, I will decorate the tree and make an effort again. But that desire is still very much absent.

While I work, I have the radio playing in the background. A couple of times this year I heard a Christmas song playing – Driving Home for Christmas sung by Chris Rea. The song was released in 1986 but I can’t ever recall hearing it and I had never heard of Chris Rea before.

Music has a way of touching the soul and this simple tune and lyrics resonated with me. It is a song about memories and coming home to loved ones. For many, Christmas time is the opportunity to have a day, or if lucky a little longer away from the grind of life – work, commitments and worries and this song took me on that journey.

Apart from hearing the song a couple of times, I forgot about it. But on Christmas day a prompting to look up the song and listen to it again was persistent. This is usually how I receive messages from loved ones who have passed over.

I searched “Driving Home for Christmas” and a video came up. I clicked to play and noticed on the top of the video playing was written – Carl’s Old Record Club. Carl loved to go for drives and the two lines So I sing for you though you can’t hear me. When I get through, and feel you near me are so relevant. I am in awe of these moments and grateful.

Continued afterlife communication has shown me there are no coincidences. Just unconditional love and a reminder that there is more to our existence than we can ever understand.

Merry Christmas Carl.

 

TheOldrecordclub

Carl’s Old Records

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDt3u2Ev1cI

Driving Home for Christmas

I’m drivin’ home for Christmas
Oh, I can’t wait to see those faces
I’m drivin’ home for Christmas, yeah
Well, I’m moving down that line

And it’s been so long, but I will be there
I sing this song to pass the time away
Drivin’ in my car, drivin’ home for Christmas
It’s gonna take some time but I’ll get there

Top to toe in tail-lights
Oh, I got red lights all around
But soon there’ll be a freeway, yeah
Get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you though you can’t hear me
When I get through, and feel you near me
(Drivin’ in my car)

I’m drivin’ home for Christmas
Drivin’ home for Christmas
With a thousand memories
I take a look at the driver next to me
He’s just the same, just the same

Top to toe in tail-lights
Oh, I got red lights all around
I’m drivin’ home for Christmas, yeah
Get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you though you can’t hear me
When I get through, oh and feel you near me
Drivin’ in my car

Drivin’ home for Christmas
Drivin’ home for Christmas
With a thousand memories
I take look at the driver next to me
He’s just the same

He’s drivin’ home, drivin’ home
Drivin’ home for Christmas
Drivin’ home for Christmas

 

 

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Veronica Crawford

Veronica Crawford is a writer, animal welfare advocate, and author dedicated to helping others navigate loss with compassion, hope and understanding. Drawing on her extensive experience in the employment and homelessness sectors, Veronica has witnessed firsthand the profound impact grief can have on individuals, families, and communities. Her professional experience, combined with her own personal journey through loss, inspires her writing and her commitment to supporting others through life's most difficult seasons. In 2011, Veronica's brother, Carl, passed away following a car accident, forever changing the course of her life. In the years since, she has also mourned the loss of many cherished animal companions, including her beloved pet sheep Marlon, Bilbo Baggins and Womble, along with her adored dogs, Max, a 19-year-old Jack Russell, and Blaze, a 15-year-old Kelpie. Through these experiences, Veronica has come to understand that while grief never truly leaves us, healing is possible. She believes that sharing our stories can bring comfort, connection, and hope to others walking a similar path. Veronica is a contributing author to the bestselling 365 book series, including 365 Ways to Connect with Your Soul, 365 Moments of Grace, 365 Life Shifts, 365 Soulful Messages: The Right Guidance at the Right Time, Goodness Abounds, and Soul Biz. Her writing has also been published in The Pearson Education Comet Magazine, Brainwash Magazine, Wild Sister Magazine, and the Soul Speak blog. She is also a contributing author to On the Other Side of Grief, due to be released in August 2026. Today, Veronica continues to write from the heart, honouring the memory of those she has loved while creating a space where others feel seen, supported and less alone in their own grief journey.

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