I took in with interest the debate over the production of a new version of The Sound of Music.  For many people there are certain inviolable production re-makes, mostly based on our own current tastes.  Whether the new production was actually good or not (I have not had a chance to watch it yet so I can’t pass personal judgment) I was astonished by how many people seemed genuinely offended that it was attempted at all.  I try to watch the original movie at least every other year, partly for the main plot of a family trying to cope with such a unique experience; The Anschluss of the late 1930’s was truly a nightmare for those Austrians who did not sympathize with Nazism.  It’s been a truism throughout history that amazing cultural productions sometimes are born of great political upheaval.  Much of my liberal arts education in college seemed to be based on that historical thought.  The story of The Sound of Music follows that path.  The musical was written in 1959 and was based on the memoir of one of the surviving members of the von Trapp family and was written with Broadway in mind.  The musical appeared first in 1959 and most of us are familiar with the Julie Andrews/Christopher Plummer movie that premiered in 1965.   If the production is known for anything it is known for its songs, which is my other reason for watching every so often.  Arguably there is no movie in history that has so many songs written for it (as opposed to today’s trend of creating song tracks from already released songs) that are still remembered today.  Most of us who are of my age sang some of them in school choirs or plays and the songs really stand the test of time.  In my opinion the most memorable song of the bunch was ‘My Favorite Things’, a simply catchy tune that Julie Andrews uses to cheer herself up when a pick me up was needed.  In the film the song serves two purposes; when Julie is tasked with taking on the role of governess (or as the modern generation might call it – nanny) for a family she has never met and also as a way to get the children’s attention off a thunderstorm, which is apparently not as frequent in Austria as in Florida . . .   So with the holiday season in full flow and my own curiosity about the newer version being piqued I thought why not adapt My Favorite Things to our favorite sport?  I hope you enjoy it!  I was not able to fully copy the rhyming nature of the original song (which I included at the end of this article for comparison – and to show how much better Rodgers and Hammerstein were than I will ever be, or for that matter, most of today’s musicians too), mostly because it was not possible to come up with enough lacrosse terms to rhyme with ‘things’ but tried to stay true to the melody.  My Favorite Things has been recorded by at least 35 musical performers (according to the Wiki page on the song) and has become tied with the holiday season in the minds of many so it makes sense to publish this at this time of the year.   So here it is . . .   Low goalie fakes and bone crunching hitting ‘E’ ‘M’ ‘O’ offense with fast moving passing Slashing towards goal and avoiding hard checks These are a few of our favorite things   Pop up face-offs that lead to a quick stick Behind the back and dodging the poke check Goalies red hot and attackers with flair These are a few of our favorite things   Clearing the zone and flowing transition Well placed shots from goal line extended Florida Launch and great high school teams These are a few of our favorite things   Refrain   When the ball drops, when the game ends And if our team is behind Simply remember it’s only a game And then we don’t feel so bad   Long poles reaching and making the strip FOGO scoring and a winning road trip Overtime goals from unforeseen teens These are a few of our favorite things   Weekend tourneys and needing to train Hitting top corner and changing the plane Taking the point and stopping the break These are a few of our favorite things   Playing off wing and finding the five hole Fast break passes which result in a sweet goal Top notch coaching and hard working reffing These are a few of our favorite things   Refrain When the ball drops, when the game ends And if our team is behind Simply remember it’s only a game And then we don’t feel so bad   Seven weeks to go until the new season commences!  Play hard, play to win but remember to be sportsmen and sportswomen . . . and good human beings above all.  Happy Holidays – to me the sounds of lacrosse are truly my sounds of music . . .   ———-   The Original Song   Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites, when the bee stings When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites, when the bee stings When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad