My first 13 Christmases were spent at home, without any sort of celebration (unless the day happened to coincide with Hanukkah). I spent my next 16 Christmases in movie theaters and Chinese restaurants. Then I met my wife. The past 8 Christmases have been more "traditional" in their yuletide cheer: trees and gifts and ham and cookies and gifts. And for some reason, myrrh.
And yet, despite this year being Christmas #37 (of a sort), I still managed many Christmas firsts...- For the first time ever, I saw It's a Wonderful Life. Wow. Jimmy Stewart is an amazing actor.
- For the first time ever, I saw Elf. Wow. Will Ferrell is an actor.
- For the first time ever, I performed a christening. Only afterward did I learn it's not traditionally done with two bottles of wine, and also there's no reason to ever christen a driveway. But in my defense I'm still relatively new to all this stuff.
- For the first time ever, I watched grown men battle for victory in perhaps the most hotly contested game of dreidel ever — a game that did not involve real money or real chocolate. The lone Jew (me) was ousted first, leaving six Catholics to vie for the crown — and there wasn't even a real crown.
- And for the first time ever, I watched my three-year-old son receive a Nerf gun that shoots darts up to 100 feet, weighs nearly 5 pounds, and is 4 inches taller than he is. Thanks a lot, Tim.
HAH! That gun is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen It's a Wonderful Life, and Elf is one of those movies, i think, that get's better on subsequent rewatches (like most of Ferrell's stuff, i think)
Oh, I'm not disparaging Elf. It was a cute film. I am, however, disparaging Ferrell's acting. Especially compared to Stewart's. (He's great in Stranger Than Fiction, but outside of that, I find him somewhat amusing at best.)
DeleteThat gun is epic!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour driveway is safe for voyages now.
Yep, that gun is something, alright. I'm not looking forward to father-hunting season. But at least now I know I can escape using my drivewayship.
DeleteMy son and I shared many happy memories revolving around Nerf weapons. One helpful suggestion: show him how to line up stuffed animals and shoot them down. That will give you a little breathing room. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd actually been thinking of lining up action figures as targets, but you're absolutely right: We don't have any of those yet.
DeleteLook out, stuffed animals. It's wabbit season.
Blimey, that gun is quite something! Glad you were finally able to have the complete Christmas experience!
ReplyDelete