"...it was his only defense"
Ralphie (A Christmas Story)
Haha, I sooooo love that line from "A Christmas Story". ACTUALLY...that line and about 50 others. ACTUALLY....my family could recite all the lines of "A Christmas Story" to you if you don't know them! ACTUALLY...go ahead, I triple-dog-dare ya to challenge us! In fairness and full disclosure, we are world-renown experts on Ralphie, his quirky family, and his pursuit of the ever elusive and ocularly dangerous Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot BB Gun...just sayin'. You'll shoot your eye out, kid...HO, HO, HO.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from moi to you!
sharing MY favorite line with you:
"Uh, I think that says 'fragile' dear"
It's morphed into our family Christmas Eve tradition. First, throw a local Chinese restaurant take-out menu into the car, followed by celebrating Christmas Eve church service, debating the merits of ordering Mu-shu vs. pork dumplings during the collection, blowing out the candles after singing Silent Night followed quickly by heading to the car to phone in our Chinese take-out order. Change into pj's, watch and recite "A Christmas Story" verbatim (after all these years I'm STILL not sure if the 'I like the Tin Man' kid is a boy or girl!) while partaking of a Chinese food spread the likes of which only Ralphie and his family saw at the conclusion of the movie. Open ONE gift, try to avoid the dreaded underwear box, and hit the sack. Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra-...ra-ra-ra-ra.
I know, It's not the most reverent of Christmas Eve family traditions. It's a bit quirky. But that's how my family rolls. A perfected combo of warmth, dry humor, and a dash of cynicism. I'm not sure how long we will be able to continue our Christmas tradition. My "Things" are growing up and I might reluctantly have to soon start sharing them on Christmas (oh fuuuuuuuuuudge...but I didn't say fudge!). But on Christmas Eve as we all settle in around the fire, the lit Christmas Tree, the Chinese food, and the movie...my Things are all magically little again and home with ME. And THAT is what a Christmas tradition should be about...family being together, loving and laughing.
Well...that AND sharing an immensely quotable movie. Plus, it provided me one great blog title. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. I wish you all enjoyment and love as you partake in your holiday traditions. May you all stay safe and receive all you wish for...even if it CAN shoot your eye out!
--Kathy
--Kathy
What a great photo.. I love it. I had to laugh when I read that you eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve.. We have been doing that for years.. What a great tradition!!! Merry Christmas my friend. So glad I found your blog! Or did you find mine!! either way I am glad!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Linda
Super cool photo! My kids love that movie, too and recite it word by word. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteLove your photo! sounds like we all pretty much have the same tradition I would have to add one thing light the luminaries :)Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteThat is a great line - Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, texture and selective colouring! Hope you have a great Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring tells me that Ovaltine does NOT go well with kung poa beef! She suggests breaking out some bubbly instead! (I always knew her eyes were blank for a reason).
ReplyDeleteFa-ra-ra-ra-ra back at ya!
Merry Christmas!
from the moment i saw your blog name the first time i knew you must be an expert on ralphie...
ReplyDeletethanks god i recorded the movie on video years ago, as it is no longer licensed in europe and has never been played again the last years... but it is the best christmas movie ever!!
happy holidays to you and yours!
Love your “quirky” family tradition! Those are the best kind! I also love that picture; it would make for a GREAT Christmas card! Have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteKathy!! HA HA HA!!! Yes! Fra-geee-lay!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteYour photograph is hilarious!!! And what a FUNNY movie, yes! I love it! Ha ha ha ...
I love where the mom is on the phone telling Ralphie's friends mother what word Ralphie had learned from him. Hah! And in the background you hear the mother start to scream and the kid asks "What did I do mom?? What did I do?" LOL!! So funny! Great movie with, yes, at least 50 favorite lines in it.
Thanks for your wonderful sense of humor as well as beautiful photography and texture work. I have so enjoyed reading your blog!
Happy Holidays! :) xo
Your family sounds like a wonderfully wacky bunch! Your photo for today was sweet and funny and creatively composed.
ReplyDeleteI ♥ traditions!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you!
lol....aha...so THAT'S where you got the blog title...ingenious!
ReplyDeleteLove the photo and love stopping by to hear your antics. Actually, your traditions are deep and rich....and that's what counts....sound like a blast to me!
Merry Christmas!
Kelly
Love it- Have a very Merry Christmas! :D
ReplyDeleteLove your tradition! In fact I love traditions and think they are a very important part of family. Your picture is too cute!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous was me... Cucumber!
ReplyDeletePeggy....haha....love ya my friend! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteKathy
When my nephew was little he looked just like Ralphie! Unfortunately my brother-in-law Jimmy was pegged as Scott Farkus. There was a resemblance. We watch every year and wait for Uncle Jimmy's moment in the movie. Have a happy time with your family. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteA cool shot...love it.
ReplyDeleteQuirky Christmas tradition, bet you have a blast.
A joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year, so glad I found your blog; your sense of humor keeps me smiling.
Oh, I just LOVE your tradition. What fun! That movie is our absolute favorite too ;)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!
I could read your stores all day long . . . We used to have Chinese at my mom's house years ago at Thanksgiving to counter all the turkey from everywhere else. But I love the idea of Chinese on Christmas Eve, especially take-out!!
ReplyDeleteLove, love your photo, and what are the chances we both did a photo with a sign, of course mine was a fairy! haha
Thanks for always putting a smile on my face and for your just being real!! Wishing you and your family a most joyful and Merry Christmas my friend!! (insert a little heart here ) ; )
Merry and Happy to you, hubby and your wonderful 'things'. Sounds like a perfect Christmas eve to me. And that is a grand photo of you Kathy! Love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun traditions your strange, I mean quirky, family has. That's really what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, your writing and your photos -- may I say you are such a beautiful woman? But not in a gay way -- haha!
xoxo
There's NO way I'd triple dog dare you on that movie....I know it, I've watched it, but not to that extent. This sounds like a way fun way to do Christmas. You created all that beautiful decor in your home and this seems like a fun balance to all the Martha Stewart-esque decorating. Love it.
ReplyDeleteHope your day was happy yesterday my friend.
hope you had a great christmas!
ReplyDeleteIf I had a $ for every time we say fra-gee-lay or fa-ra-ra-ra-ra, we'd be in Hawaii right now. :) Love, love, love. XO!
ReplyDeleteour movie is chevy chase's christmas vacation....the whole family recite's every. single. line.
ReplyDeletekeep an eye on my blog, i will soon be posting our christmas picture....we are all wearing matching tee shirts with a line from that movie!!
so happy to have found you, i hope you had a wonderful holiday!!