During my drive home on December 17, a story on MPR caught my ear. It began like this:

For the past 24 holiday seasons, Christmas music historian William Studwell has trotted out his annual Carol of the Year, which highlights a Christmas carol on an anniversary year.

The Northern Illinois University professor emeritus didn’t live long enough to deliver what he planned as his 25th, and final, essay on what he considered the most important holiday songs. But thanks to the work of a few others, his project has been completed.

His made his final choice as he knew he has dying: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

… and a happy 2011, too.