Christmas Essentials

First off, MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you and to your families. A Happy New Year as well. As I mentioned in my last post, I really enjoy Christmas and the whole season lead up to it. A season that brings people together and allows a spirit of peace and love to infiltrate millions across the globe deserves to be celebrated. The traditions and signs and symbols, for the most part, have remained the same for many years and have been passed down through all the generations and just as I did as a child, soon my child will sing the same songs and hear the same stories and celebrate with all the family. But in addition to all of that, I hope to pass down a couple other "traditions" to the Holiday Season that I consider to be essential and look forward to every year. This is more than Christmas lights and Christmas carols and snow and the cold and hustle and bustle. These are essentials for me, things that I give serious consideration to whether or not I could make it through the holidays without.

The first item that kicks it all off for me is the Starbucks Egg Nog Latte. As my wife so eloquently puts it, "I'm afraid that you may be having an emotional affair with Egg Nog Lattes." From the first moment they hit the menu at the local Starbucks I am a way too regular customer that forks over $4 for a Large Egg Nog Latte. One day, someday, I may have to cutback as financial obligations change, but I may just include these seasonal into the budget to make room for them.

Of course, Egg Nog is also on the list. Thick, creamy, smooth, glorious egg nog. We have a Calder's Dairy store by our house and for $8 you can get a half gallon of the best Egg Nog this side of the Mississippi. It is so thick that when you throw a little Captain in it, you have to stir the bleep out of it to get it to mix together. When not gorging myself on the Latte, a coffee mug of cool Egg Nog at a precise 4:1 ratio with Captain Morgan top with a dash of cinnamon is the perfect ending to a Christmas Season evening.

Holiday movies are also a huge part of my enjoyment of Christmas. And nothing tops the list more than the Griswold's. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation continues the saga of Clark W. Griswold Jr. and his never ending quest to provide the quintessential, perfect family vacation for his lovely wife and his 2 children. This is probably my most watched movie. I can watch it anytime anywhere whether on TV or a DVD. We once had it on VHS and wore it out in just a couple years. Throw in the in-laws and Cousin Eddy and no man should have to put up with so much. This is a laugh outloud, have egg nog spurt out your nose hilarious movie. And it starts from the first scene until the last.

The second move is Little Ralphie and his unending desire to get his hands on an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle, with a Scope for Christmas. It is all the kid wants. It is also where the line, "Ohhhhhhhhhh Ffffffuuuuuuuuuudge" followed by the narrator (a grown up Ralphie) saying, "only I said THE word, the F, dash, dash, dash word." As well, as The Lamp! This is another must see for all and actually the older I have become the more I appreciate this movie for its meanings and sub-story lines throughout. I triple dog dare you to rent this movie (or better yet, catch it on the 24-hour marathon on Christmas Eve on TBS) this year and watch it with the wife and kids over Christmas.

Another essential is the overall smell of pine in the house. Usually this is no problem for Michele and I as we go to our local Christmas tree lot and buy a fresh Blue Spruce to put up in the house. But this year we passed as we have been remodeling the kitchen and our family room as become our storage space for plates, bowls, and glasses. So we have relied on Yankee Candle Balsam and Cedar Housewarmer Candles as well as Mistletoe Housewarmer Candles. Honestly, we have these candles burning everyyear at Christmas time, but now it is a couple lit at all times when we are home. These jars our highly scented and do an excellent job allowing the aroma to permeate the room.

This time next year, my one goal for Christmas is to be sipping on a Starbucks Egg Nog Latte sitting in my pine scented back room watching Christmas Vacation on TV with my wife and child next to me laughing and making memories to pass down to future generations throughout the years.

To live such a fortunate life.....

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S