At the risk of sounding trite, hokey or way too cute, Bravo for this. Worthy of an encore performance and a standing O from those of us whose stages are, or have been, populated with "characters" whom we may not fully appreciate except in the more focused vision of hindsight.
The cast of my own Christmas stage has waxed and waned with the passage of time due to geography and mortality. This year it was a small one of 3 under our roof. Well, four, really, if you include The Birthday Boy in whose honor the party was thrown. But the memories of others either absent or departed were present as well. And they all gave a fine performance.
The Oscar this year goes to my father, with Best Supporting role going to my mother, both awarded posthumously, for The Tree Trimming Party, circa early 1980's. Most memorable scene: My mother sitting on one end of her living room couch, as Emily Post proper-and-put-together as ever, a small glass of sherry in her hand and struggling mightily to stifle a giant and undignified guffaw; two young granddaughters sitting next to her laughing, giggling and smiling with delight at various goings on in the room, but mostly at my father, a sometimes hard-barked, stoic and always pragmatic and practical figure, bookending them on the couch with a Highball in hand, a huge grin on his face, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and a set of Mickey Mouse ears cocked jauntily on his head, which were no small part of the reason for my daughters' delight. For all his everyday tough-and-sometimes-gruff demeanor, he was often pretty much putty in their hands.
There's an actual Kodak of that Kodak Moment buried in the basement somewhere. Probably a bit faded. Will dig it out one day and pass it on to the girls. But the memory is still vivid, in living color. Made even more so in a way by what you wrote here. So, thanks for that, Matt. And, when it comes for you - and hopefully that won't be too long - Merry Christmas, right back at ya!
Thank you for sharing these gems; your storytelling made me smile! A great reminder for me to cherish it all ~ the good, the bad, the crazy ~ and be mindful that they can make the best memories. Merry Christmas to you and yours! I hope that you both can kick Covid to the curb with a quick recovery.
I am SO glad JVL recommended you! Matt, you are a bright spot in my week! A fly fisher to boot! Get well soon to you and your family, Merry Christmas and thank you for the talent and joy you bring into the world!
Like you, Covid changed my Christmas plans, ones that involved all of us living far away (my son and his family on the West Coast, me and my boyfriend in Ohio) traveling east to visit my sibs and their families, variously in NYC, Greater NYC, and extreme exurban NYC (NE PA).
Those of us traveling east arrived as scheduled; those who live here (my nieces in NYC) are opting out of planned gatherings over Omicron fears (and potentially, a live case). My son and daughter-in-law's renewal of their marriage vows in front of family -- a makeover to compensate for the military wedding in front of a justice of the peace 8 years ago -- will be before a much reduced live audience. My sister will sing the song she wrote for them without the blending harmony of our nieces.
Yeah -- I'm disappointed. But your previous newsletter on grace, and the wisdom of my years, has helped me realize that you pick up your shattered expectations and create something else that, on retelling many years in the future, will be memorable and cherished.
Hoping you and your wife recover quickly and get on with the joys of the season in their altered form.
Another wonderful piece, Matt. Hope you and your wife get better soon and I look forward to continuing to read your always inspiring, thought provoking, and usually laugh-out-loud writing in 2022.
We were a faraway family who only 'celebrated' by ourselves (the secret reason for which we didn't learn until our father was dead and our mother was holding firm at level 6 dementia) thanks to the bastards that run Ancestry.com. I don't have the collective chaos memories that many people share. I do miss my aunts and uncles who had vivid personalities but it's a wistful longing that hangs in the air all year long, made more poignant buy what I think we may have missed.
I must be honest though . . . I would love to hear "What do you say, Freddy 'The Beetle' Barnes, with 1 meaning impossible and 10 meaning metaphysical certitude?" once more.
May you recover quickly! Thanks for sharing and making my day better. Merry Christmas!
May y’all be blessed with good health🌺🗡
At the risk of sounding trite, hokey or way too cute, Bravo for this. Worthy of an encore performance and a standing O from those of us whose stages are, or have been, populated with "characters" whom we may not fully appreciate except in the more focused vision of hindsight.
The cast of my own Christmas stage has waxed and waned with the passage of time due to geography and mortality. This year it was a small one of 3 under our roof. Well, four, really, if you include The Birthday Boy in whose honor the party was thrown. But the memories of others either absent or departed were present as well. And they all gave a fine performance.
The Oscar this year goes to my father, with Best Supporting role going to my mother, both awarded posthumously, for The Tree Trimming Party, circa early 1980's. Most memorable scene: My mother sitting on one end of her living room couch, as Emily Post proper-and-put-together as ever, a small glass of sherry in her hand and struggling mightily to stifle a giant and undignified guffaw; two young granddaughters sitting next to her laughing, giggling and smiling with delight at various goings on in the room, but mostly at my father, a sometimes hard-barked, stoic and always pragmatic and practical figure, bookending them on the couch with a Highball in hand, a huge grin on his face, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and a set of Mickey Mouse ears cocked jauntily on his head, which were no small part of the reason for my daughters' delight. For all his everyday tough-and-sometimes-gruff demeanor, he was often pretty much putty in their hands.
There's an actual Kodak of that Kodak Moment buried in the basement somewhere. Probably a bit faded. Will dig it out one day and pass it on to the girls. But the memory is still vivid, in living color. Made even more so in a way by what you wrote here. So, thanks for that, Matt. And, when it comes for you - and hopefully that won't be too long - Merry Christmas, right back at ya!
Thank you for the laughs! We have had some crazy family stories as well and usually alcohol was involved...
Thank you for sharing these gems; your storytelling made me smile! A great reminder for me to cherish it all ~ the good, the bad, the crazy ~ and be mindful that they can make the best memories. Merry Christmas to you and yours! I hope that you both can kick Covid to the curb with a quick recovery.
Matt as always you are at the top of your game. Your Uncle Carl and his handlebar mustache. He always made me laugh.
Merry Christmas Matt. I'll let Uncle Robbie know he got an honorable mention. Thanks that made me smile.
Merry dysfunctional Christmas ! And here’s to many more. Progress not perfection .
I am SO glad JVL recommended you! Matt, you are a bright spot in my week! A fly fisher to boot! Get well soon to you and your family, Merry Christmas and thank you for the talent and joy you bring into the world!
Loved hearing the family stories! Merry Christmas!
Like you, Covid changed my Christmas plans, ones that involved all of us living far away (my son and his family on the West Coast, me and my boyfriend in Ohio) traveling east to visit my sibs and their families, variously in NYC, Greater NYC, and extreme exurban NYC (NE PA).
Those of us traveling east arrived as scheduled; those who live here (my nieces in NYC) are opting out of planned gatherings over Omicron fears (and potentially, a live case). My son and daughter-in-law's renewal of their marriage vows in front of family -- a makeover to compensate for the military wedding in front of a justice of the peace 8 years ago -- will be before a much reduced live audience. My sister will sing the song she wrote for them without the blending harmony of our nieces.
Yeah -- I'm disappointed. But your previous newsletter on grace, and the wisdom of my years, has helped me realize that you pick up your shattered expectations and create something else that, on retelling many years in the future, will be memorable and cherished.
Hoping you and your wife recover quickly and get on with the joys of the season in their altered form.
Laughed a lot, sniffled a little. Lovely piece. I hope you and your wife recover quickly. Merry Christmas!
Another wonderful piece, Matt. Hope you and your wife get better soon and I look forward to continuing to read your always inspiring, thought provoking, and usually laugh-out-loud writing in 2022.
Laughed until I cried. Thanks for sharing, and hope you recover soon.
The Kinks "Father Christmas" is the best Christmas song...
Matt, May you and yours get well quickly and have a merry belated Christmas. God bless.
O, and I enjoyed today’s rendering.
We were a faraway family who only 'celebrated' by ourselves (the secret reason for which we didn't learn until our father was dead and our mother was holding firm at level 6 dementia) thanks to the bastards that run Ancestry.com. I don't have the collective chaos memories that many people share. I do miss my aunts and uncles who had vivid personalities but it's a wistful longing that hangs in the air all year long, made more poignant buy what I think we may have missed.
I must be honest though . . . I would love to hear "What do you say, Freddy 'The Beetle' Barnes, with 1 meaning impossible and 10 meaning metaphysical certitude?" once more.
Bye Bye!