One of my
favorite holiday movies isn’t one of the classics. The one I love to watch each
and every Christmas is “Home For the Holidays” with Robert Downey, Jr. and
Holly Hunter. If you haven’t seen the movie (it’s been out for a long time),
basically it is about a family, a bit dysfunctional, that all gather together
at Christmas time. I think I enjoy this movie each and every year because in my
eyes that’s what most families are, just a tad dysfunctional, you know? Some of
us admit us, and some of us don’t. I remember one Christmas when I was in high
school, that my Dad had accepted an invitation to have Christmas dinner over at
a co-workers house. They were a younger couple that had moved out here from
back East and didn’t have any family out here. Their names were Donna and Joe,
and all day Donna spent cooking. There was turkey, ham, all the traditional
side dishes, several desserts and more. While Donna was finishing cooking the
Christmas dinner, my Dad had gone upstairs with Joe to play pool. My Dad wasn’t
much of a drinker. He would have a beer here and there, but that was about it.
Apparently, while upstairs playing he pool, he also was drinking whiskey. The
next thing we knew, he sort of stumbled down the stairs. I’m not sure exactly
how this happened, but he managed to trip and fall into the beautifully
decorated Christmas tree that was placed in front of the bay window. Half of
the tree crashed through the window into the front yard, while the remainder of
the tree was inside of the house. And my Dad? He landed on his butt on the
floor with Christmas lights wrapped around his head and part of his body
asking, “did I do that”? I have to admit, I laughed as did Joe and Donna. After
all it was pretty funny. But my poor Mom was so embarrassed I don’t think she
ever recovered from my Dad being part of Joe and Donna’s Christmas décor with
holiday lights wrapped around him!
My point of
the little story above is this. The holidays really should be about “who” we
spend the holidays with. It shouldn’t be about what food is on the table or how
it is displayed, but “who” is sitting at our tables with us! As we all know the
passage of time seems to go by faster and faster each year. Rather than spend
all the time looking for the perfect holiday gifts, although Country Roads does
have wonderful things as far as gift giving goes, or cooking the perfect
Christmas dinner, we should just enjoy each other, you know? I wish you all a
magical holiday season. And I hope you will find it in your hearts to reach out
and help those that won’t have a table to sit around this Christmas. Our world
isn’t like it use to be but that doesn’t mean that we have to change. When you
are in a position to “give” to those less fortunate than yourself, you couldn’t
ask for a better Christmas present ever! Happy Holidays!!
