childhood

Random Christmas Memories

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

I don’t know what prompted it today, but I spend some time reminiscing about when I visited Santa as a child. For me, that was always my favorite part of the Christmas season.

We went to Goldsmith’s (think of Macy’s and you get the idea). I distinctly remember a spiral entrance ramp to the parking garage, almost like it was yesterday. Maybe because I was so keyed up with excitement that I took in every detail.

We had to go through a tunnel of festive holiday figures, including elves and other merry creatures– okay, so I’m a little fuzzy on the details of this part. I remember it was like stepping into a dream. The good kind of dreams that you always wish you could go back to every time you fall asleep.

And then at the end there was Santa. Okay, not really. Just some guy in a costume affecting a jolly demeanor. But for me it was real enough. Once I got over my terrifying fear of him (and I’m not so sure what frightened me so much about him), I was able to get my Christmas list to the big guy himself. Talk about going straight to the top.

I think that one of the best thing a parent can do is to create these kinds of memories for their children. Children need happy, safe memories to carry with them through the nightmares and dark nights. Memories like this one.

I’ve seen the photos of me sitting in Santa’s lap as a very young tyke, face beet red and screaming my head off. Why anybody thought that would make a great holiday photo, I have no idea. But it still exists in a photobook somewhere in all its kodachrome glory.

Maybe one day I’ll scan it and post it on my facebook page. On second thought. . . . nah.

 

Old Christmas Movies

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 2 Comments

 

One of the reasons I love this time of year (and there are many) is that I get to pull out my epic collection of Christmas movies and watch all my favorites again. Especially the old ones (meaning those made before I was born).

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of the more recent holiday flicks, too. I love Home Alone, Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and even the 90’s remake of Miracle on 34th Street.

But my heart truly belongs to the classics.

It’s not Christmas without seeing old films like The Bells of St. Mary’s or The Bishop’s Wife. I can’t really get into the festive mood of the season until I’ve seen White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. Not forgetting lesser-known (but equally classic) movies like Christmas in Connecticut, A Holiday Affair, Holiday Inn, Remember the Night, and A Christmas Carol (any of the older ones are good, but I recommend the 1951 Alistair Sims version).

Maybe I like all these old movies because Christmas makes me nostalgic. I start missing my childhood and the people that I loved that are now gone. I miss the unadulterated excitement that Christmas brought that made me unable to sleep on Christmas Eve.

I know that the proper etiquette is to wait until Thanksgiving to start watching Christmas movies, but I say to that, “Balderdash!” I’m not waiting. Besides, that’s probably not even a real rule, just something I made up.

What old Christmas movies do you watch every year? And by old, I mean pre-1970. I discovered a couple of gems last year for the first time in Come to the Stable and It Happened on 5th Avenue, and I’m always looking for a good holiday classic.

So send me your recommendations. Email me at GMendel72@united.net or find me on facebook or send up smoke signals. Whatever works for you. Just let me know, ’cause enquiring minds want to know.