Merry Christmas! 　　Having grown up in a small Rhode Island fishing village and being born 　　at Christmastime inspired me to create this CD for you about Christmas 　　in New England. As a child, I remember singing Christmas carols around 　　the piano with my family and sharing Christmas pies with our neighbors. 　　Back then, it seemed like Christmas was about more than just buying 　　fancy gifts or going to parties. The memories of those songs and times 　　with my family at Christmas stay with me today. 　　For this music, I have teamed up with two friends from Boston: John 　　Weston and David Grimes. We have collected carols from around the 　　world that we remember singing with our families when we were children. 　　I also wrote an original Christmas song to begin the CD and David 　　wrote one for the end that we think you will enjoy. My song, “Wish You 　　Were Here”, goes out to anyone who can’t make it home for Christmas, 　　especially thinking of our troops serving overseas. 　　I hope our music helps you to celebrate Christmas the way we all used to. 　　From my home in New England, I wish you and your family a very Merry 　　Christmas. 　　~Noel