From 1953: Gayla Peevey sings her hit record, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." Every holiday season, I run into at least one situation where a band of young carolers — usually four of them in Victorian garb — are taking requests and performing what's requested…just like in my Mel Tormé story. I always ask for this song, they always know it, they always enjoy singing it — and everyone around enjoys hearing it…