On the First Day of Christmas, my t.v. gave to me...

I love Christmas.

I love the tree, the music, the decorations, the hats, the movies, the traditions, the gatherings, the gifts, and the stories.

So, as my own way of celebrating the Christmas season, I'm watching Christmas movies every day until the big one. Today's movie: How The Grinch Stole Christmas(1966 animated version, of course).

Dr. Seuss is a classic for children of all ages(despite his incredible political cartoons). He took concepts and put them in the most basic forms, and The Grinch is no exception. It shows us that Christmas is more than presents and feasts and celebration; As long as we have love in our hearts, its Christmas. And at the end, the Whos take in the Grinch and give him a spot at the head of the table- what better message of forgiveness and acceptance than that?

Aside from great themes, the music and animation is beautiful. They just don't make'em like that anymore. Any Dr. Seuss movie fascinates me(I haven't seen the live action ones, so take my opinion with a grain of salt), because his worlds are so whimsical and fantastic. Things loop and spiral and curve. There are very few straight edges in Whoville.

I've always loved the Grinch, but this year it holds a little more for me. My beautiful boy, you see, is incredibly Grinch-like. He hates Christmas, and he has his reasons. He swore he'd have no part in my merriment.  But "he hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it came! Somehow or other... it came just the same." And little by little, slowly but surely, his Grinch-y heart grew three sizes this week. He helped me fetch the tree, and even asked to put the star on top when I was finished. I think, just maybe, he's getting to enjoy Christmas with me.

If you want to watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas, here's a good spot: http://vimeo.com/56293226

Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos, far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.

Creature Comforts

It's astounding the things we forget.

Last night, I had occasion to travel to Easton(I won't lie- it was for the Wal-Mart). On my way, I stopped for gas at the gas station across from my old college.

Without thinking, I pulled up to my usual pump, walked in, got my usual drink, stood in the line, stopped on the way out to check the bulletin board, and pumped my gas. Everything felt familiar, and nice.

I must've gone to this gas station twice a day for years and years. It was my one-stop shop for pre-show dinner, after-school Monster, gas both ways. On my finer days, I would pop in to the attached Subway and have a chat with my friend. We even had the end of a cast party on the picnic tables outside(after being kicked out of the theatre).

I stopped for gas, but I got much more than that. I got familiarity. I got comfort. Home isn't just about the place we live- it's your gas station, your grocery store, the traffic light that takes forever to change. It's that old man always sitting on his porch, and the lady that walks her dog on the same route every day. It's where you go to drink coffee, it's where you go to get something a little stronger than coffee, and all the roads you take to get there.

How incredibly lucky I am to have a new home with new coffee, gas, and groceries, but still live close enough that I can, on occasion, enjoy things of greater familiarity.

Coming home after my shopping trip to slip into bed and snuggle with my beautiful boy was only part of feeling at home last night. Plus, I got some great decorations for the house, and great presents for my Adopt-a-kid! Win-win situation, all around.