It appears I have been tagged with a holiday meme. Blame Reecie.
Name 3 people you absolutely miss right this moment that you haven’t seen in some time.
1) Two that matter most at Christmas are Mom and G’ma. Long departed; missed every day, especially this time of the year.
2) No one else. I’d go see them.
Name 3 things you miss about home during the holidays (be it people, smells, foods, whatever).
1) I don’t do a Christmas tree and I miss having one, though not enough to buy and decorate the damn thing. I hate buying and decorating Christmas trees.
2) A real fire in the fireplace, not just fake logs and gas. This year I will have a real fire.
3) For some years I have visited my daughters at Christmas and it’s terrific, especially when my sons can be there too (and the spouses and kids). But it would be nice to have them all at my house one year. I’d get a Christmas tree.
Name 1 holiday memory that you have from childhood that you will never forget.
I can’t remember.
Name at least 1 favorite book or movie that always reminds you of the holidays.
O.Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, which I post on NewMexiKen each year in full. Elf is good. Bad Santa is a fun film, but not as a “Christmas” movie. Don’t make that mistake.
Name your top 3 4 favorite holiday songs that get you in the mood to celebrate.
1) “Jingle Bell Rock” performed by my granddaughter Kiley.
2) The Charlie Brown version of “O Tannebaum.”
3) The Drifters “White Christmas.”
4) The Stevie Nicks version of “Silent Night,” but that’s a whole different mood to celebrate.
If you could go anywhere other than home for the holidays, where would you choose to go and who would you want to bring along?
Bethlehem. I’m mean, why not? At least once. I’d take my children and their spouses and significant other and my grandchildren. And a few friends. London and Rome, too, on the way. Or Kauai.
The Grinch or Rudolph?
Rudolph. He showed the other reindeer, the bastards.
Formal holiday dinner or casual get-together food?
Probably dinner on Thanksgiving (that is what Thanksgiving has become all about). With cranberries. Casual food on Christmas and New Year’s Day. As long as one of those meals includes the traditional lasagna.
Name the best holiday gift you ever received and why.
What, and piss everyone else off. No, way.
Describe the funniest holiday moment you’ve ever had.
I guess when Ken, the oldest, was about 19 months old. He got up earlier than his parents and undecorated the Christmas tree, taking every ornament off that he could reach and lining them all up in a nice row on the sofa.
Another one was when the kids were little and my mother visited just before Christmas to buy presents. When we suggested clothes and underwear and things, she said, “OK, but I’ll have to get them toys, too. I’m not going to be remembered as the underwear grandma.”
Name a holiday memory that truly warmed your heart.
I made my children a puppet theater one year. Nothing elaborate, but kind of cool. Their mom made them a passle of puppets, including one that looked like each of the four of them. Thinking about being Santa for all those years warms my heart pretty good.
Name your top 3 favorite TV specials that frequent the airwaves during the holiday season.
1) A Charlie Brown Christmas.
2) The Christmas Story. The kid will shoot his eye out.
3) A Christmas Carol. I prefer the George C. Scott version.
I own DVDs of all three.
Sledding, snowball fight, snow angels or building a snowman?
It’s been a long time; I’d like to build a snowman.
Eggnog, hot chocolate, or hot cider?
Eggnog.
Candy canes or fruit cake?
Fruit cake. I like fruit cake.
Favorite holiday cookie: frosted sugar cutout, gingerbread, date-nut, or other?
Frosted sugar cutout.
NewMexiKen believes it is much better to receive than to give, so I won’t pass this meme along to anyone in particular. All bloggers are welcome to give it a try and let us know (in the comments) that you did. Happy Holidays.