I love this time of year. [I say that a lot, don’t I?] Well, I do. The cool temps, the furry sock, the fur-family snuggling up like socks. It’s just so many kinds of wonderful.
One of the reasons I love it is I don’t get strange looks when someone says, “So, whadya do last night?” and I reply with, “I watched some Christmas program.” Yeah. They tend to frown on that in June through August. [Although they shouldn’t. Just sayin’.]
On average, I watch more Christmas shows than, well, average. Oh! Oh! *waves hand emphatically* And I almost forgot to mention that I’ve rediscovered the beauty of old shows on Hulu. Yup. Shows I used to watch as a kid and in my teens (am I dating myself? Well, why not? Someone has to!), like Charles in Charge! [Who remembers, “I loved my life out loud and it broke!”] Last week, with all the streaming apps on my Roku, I binged through Christmas eps of some awesome shows including Perfect Strangers, Family Ties, Growing Pains. Remember all those? My goodness. And how ’bout them old detective shows like Simon & Simon? That’s there, too.
But I digress. This post is about my favorite Christmas movies. I realize now this is a stupid post to write, because really? Only five favorites? That’s like asking a rabbit which of her kids she loves best? There’s too many to consider! But, I’ll do my best.
And since there’s this thing about copyright images, I apologize for not having any visuals to assist you this week. But you understand. Blogging is better when you’re not behind bars.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life. Y’all had better know this one. It’s how my Bedford Manor got its name. This is almost a sacred movie to me. I can’t just pop it in the DVD player on a Saturday afternoon. Oh, no. This is a house-cleaned, phone-turned-off, popcorn-made and chocolate in the mug kind of movie. When it’s dark outside and there’s a cozy fire in the fireplace [oh, please. Where else would the fire be? Wait. This is So Cal. Don’t answer that.] There’s always been a beauty in this movie. George’s ability to discover what really matters, and share that lesson with those he loves. Sigh. Pure beauty.
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1994 version). Don’t get me wrong, I like the original, too. But there’s something about this one that just grabs me. Sure, it’s a remake. But it’s also an original. And it’s well worth time to get the warm fuzzies and say, “I believe!”
3. The Polar Express. Who doesn’t adore this incredible visual delight? The children on the cusp of “Do I or Don’t I believe?” The train conductor leading them closer to Christmas. The singing and dancing elves. Santa! And the jingle bells. This, along with It’s a Wonderful Life (see #1 above, on the off-chance y’all scrolled past it), are the reasons I decorate with bells every year.
4. ELF. I love ELF! ELF’s my favorite! There is singing at the North Pole and in New York. Sugar, sugar, sugar, and wait . . . Oh yes. Sugar. What’s not to love?
5. Christmas in Connecticut. This old-time classic of the writer (go figure!) pretending to live on a farm, and a war hero pretending to love someone else, and there’s a boss and a corporate boss and babies who don’t belong to anyone, and an uncle who’s hired to flip flapjacks. It’s my kind of entertainment.
BONUS: And y’all know I’m not really wrong on this one . . . DIE HARD, the original. Oh yes. Nakatomi Plaza. Argyle. And that most quotable line, which, actually, is not terribly quotable when you’re writing a family-friendly blog. So, uhm. Use your imagination. And imagine Bruce Willis saying it. There ya go.
Last week I had a Skype session with Keri Jaehnig of Idea Girl Media. We went to school in Michigan before we both moved away. Naturally our conversation took on the what-do-you-like-where-you’re-at-now direction.
I sipped my sweet tea and listened as she told me about her new digs, and I thought, surely I could come up with at least five things to like about Ohio. Can’t I?
Let’s test this theory . . .
5. Ohio State University. I mean the colors alone are worth loving this Big Ten university. Am I right? Red and white. It just screams Christmas all year ’round. Don’t get me wrong, though. I live for the yearly battle against UM. I’ll forever be maize and blue. As my friend Cyle and I discussed at Blue Ridge, ’tis far, far better to be from Ohio and drive north to Michigan for schooling, than it is to be from Michigan and head south of the border.
Santa or Ohio? I get confused . . .
4. Buckeyes. Not to be confused with edible chestnuts, buckeyes are “moderately toxic”. Your stomach will not be your friend if you ingest these lookalikes. Buckeye trees once populated Ohio’s lands, and were made even more popular during William Henry Harrison’s 1840 Presidential campaign. That’s cool. I’m just a fan of that dark brown hue.
Chestnuts or Buckeyes?
3. Fireflies (Lightning Bugs). During summer breaks, we would drive south to visit family in Toledo. We loved starting the trip at dusk, as thousands of lightning bugs lit up the fields. I couldn’t find a decent firefly photo, but here’s an awesome firefly in a jar craft that Dot and I did several years ago.
Fireflies in a Jar (Craft)
2. Cedar Point. This amusement park is home to one of America’s largest Ferris wheels. I’ve never been on the Giant Wheel and given my fear of heights and propensity for quick-onset vertigo, it’s a good chance I never will. Still, I have many marvelous summer memories of my times at Cedar Point, from the amazing food venues to my first roller coaster, Blue Streak.
Cedar Point Giant Wheel
1. But the best reason to like Ohio (and you can’t tell me y’all didn’t see this one coming), is that the longest it will take you is about five hours to get from the southern most part of Ohio up to Michigan.
The Mitten of Michigan.
And there you have it. Five reasons why this former Michigander will always like Ohio.
So, what do you like best about your neck of the woods?
I love Tuesdays. I always have. I was born on a Tuesday. It’s when NCIS is on, and still reruns of Flashpoint. Monday is over, and the next day halfway finishes the workweek.
I’ve always loved Tuesdays.
This Tuesday is one of my favorites. This Tuesday is full of promise. The workweek has been shortened with the Memorial Day Holiday yesterday, which will make this Tuesday go by twice as fast as I catch up on a day’s worth of calls, emails, and other business at the office.
This Tuesday I have my writing work cut out for me as I re-edit the first three chapters of Amara’s Light to include recent character changes and other plotting shifts that Megan and I hashed out over the weekend.
Notes for Amara’s Light
This Tuesday I’ll wrap up some last minute changes for the new blog design which will be revealed with Friday’s TGIF post.
This Tuesday is full of promise. I can’t wait to see what next Tuesday brings.
Yes, I know it’s June.
Yes, I know you’re all shaking your heads and wondering if I’m having a nutty.
But I’ve had this movie in my laptop DVD player since Tuesday night.
And I’ve been watching it.
And I love it.
This has become my favorite Christmas movie. The Christmas movie. The one I have to watch each year. Sure, I have my Top Ten. Those movies that I bring out the Day After Thanksgiving and watch at some point within the next 30 days.
But It’s a Wonderful Life is the one that I watch. I mean, really watch. The one where I make phone calls to tell my family “Don’t call me.” The one where the snack food is on the coffee table and the holiday drink of choice is in the chilled glass. There are no interruptions when I’m watching this movie.
Even Dot knows not to distract me in any manner whatsoever.
Have I said, this is my favorite movie? Because it is.
It’s the well-known original story of a down-on-his-luck man whose life didn’t go at all the way he planned. Filled with anger and regrets, an angel greets him in an effort to prevent his suicide. What follows is the other side of the “What If” coin. George Bailey is consumed with the “What If’s” and “Why Not’s” that he thinks would have made his life better. Angel Clarence shows him the “What If’s”, if George had never been born.
George is filled with a renewing sense of purpose, of gratitude and thanksgiving. His life hasn’t changed. But his perspective has.
And he comes to realize what so many of us fail to grasp:
It’s a Wonderful Life.
As one of my friends says, you can stay on the pity pot or you can share your sunshine.
I could never understand how people are so much nicer and more patient and compassionate from November through January, and the rest of the year go back to acting as if others don’t matter.
If we can find that “Christmas Spirit” then, why not now? Why should it be a shock to be filled with hope in June?
I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately and not liking it. I’ve been feeling like I’m at the end of the proverbial rope. Worst of all, I’d been feeling almost like there’s not much hope.
I hate that feeling!
I dug through the Christmas media and found my movie. And I’ve been watching it every night since.
It’s interesting how you can watch the same thing over and over and then suddenly, realize something new about it. I’ve been so entranced with watching the movie, paying attention to it. Every night I’m catching new glimmers that I’d not noticed before: dialogue, camera angles, scenery. Every ounce of this movie is coming to life for me in a way I’d not experienced before. Not only is the message coming across loud and clear, but it’s reigniting my creative passions.
The writer in me constantly evaluates every word, every action. The person in me finds hope in every scene.
Hope.
From a movie script.
Inspiration.
From a story.
Sure. My situation hasn’t changed since yesterday. But in some ways, that’s okay. Because while things aren’t getting better, they also aren’t getting any worse. And there’s something to be said for that kind of stability. The kind where you know you’re home with family and eating together each day. The kind where creativity overcomes the consumer.
The kind of stability that gives you a comfy bed to rest in and a DVD to watch each night.
Things haven’t gotten any better.
But they haven’t gotten any worse.
It’s a Wonderful Life.
I’ve been watching it every night.
And I’ve been waking up every morning. Ready to face whatever the day brings.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sweeten my tea and share:
Buy NOLA, a romantic location mystery, by Molly Jo Realy
NOLA, by Molly Jo Realy
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