I’ve become used to the shocked expressions on the faces of friends who stop by our condo in December. Welcome to wall-to-wall Christmas! Last week a neighbor asked how many grandchildren we have. She was clearly puzzled when I told her there weren’t any. All that Christmas stuff for just two adults?

Yes.

And there’s also non-stop Christmas music, courtesy of Pandora, which has a wonderful (and free!) traditional Christmas music station.

Here’s one reason why it’s wonderful: There’s plenty of holiday music by Perry Como. I loved him as a child – always watched his show with my mother – and he was like a member of the family because our piano usually displayed sheet music with his face on the cover.

One of the biggest thrills of my life was attending one of his Christmas concerts – his last, sadly. Perry Como was one of those people who should have lived forever.

But I’m taking too long to get to my point, which is that an incident at that concert is relevant to writers. And I have to apologize (in advance) for yet another detour.

Barbra Streisand reluctantly gave up performing live after she forgot the lyrics to a song at one of her concerts. Hold that thought.

So there’s Perry Como in Tampa, Florida, getting ready to sing his heart out to his rapturous fans (including me). But first he explained what all those pieces of paper were in front of him. “I forget the lyrics sometimes,” he said. So he had brought printed copies of everything he was going to sing that night – even familiar songs like “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells.”

Let me tell you another story about Perry Como. Some years before that concert I saw him on TV doing a guest appearance at a Memorial Day show. He sang one of my absolutely favorite songs: “No Other Love.” Of course I know it well.

But wait! He sang two lines that I didn’t know.

When he finished, he told the host that he’d forgotten two of the lines – so, on the spot, he’d made up two different ones. Incredibly, they fit the music perfectly – they even rhymed.

Here’s my point (at last!). Perry Como did not let a problem stop him. Clearly he could not get away with making up new lyrics to “Silent Night” if he had a memory lapse onstage. So he used a resource – pieces of paper.

Back to Barbra Streisand. She didn’t have to give up performing. Opera stars have prompters. Teleprompters are available. Or she could have taken the low-tech route, as Perry Como did.

I know so many people who would love to write. Yes, they have an idea for a book, and they know that self-publishing is inexpensive and easy, but…

…and out come the excuses.

Sorry, my friend. There are no excuses. Identify the obstacles, gather your resources, and get going!

                                 Perry Como