Christmas Movies Are the Best (and the Most Predictable)

 

 

There are really only a few Christmas movie plots. They just change the characters, locales, and their field of work.

 

- A deceptive person (but, deceptive for "good" reason, of course), pretends to be someone else. The unsuspecting soul falls in love with the fake, then rejects them when they find out about the lie.

Resolution: They forgive the lie and get back together.

 

- Some random accident causes amnesia. Even though they don't know who they are, they fall in love, only to find out they already have a boo - who they didn't really love - but they still choose to go back to them.

Resolution: They dump the boo and get together with the new person.

 

- A sad soul no longer celebrates Christmas because of a loss. They meet someone who makes then re-think their bah humbug attitude, but then reject them.

Resolution: They realize Christmas is worth celebrating and decide to love again.

 

- A rich person who values only money and things finds themselves in a place where they're forced to live modestly during the holidays. They fall in love and seem to transform, but then choose their lavish lifestyle and head back to the big city.

Resolution: They realize their life is empty and return to the modest town and the love they found there.

 

- Conversely, a poor (or modest means) person ends up working for or serving a rich person (or royalty). While there, they fall in love with the rich, royal, single person (prince or princess) but the family rejects them for not being good enough and sends them away. Their love interest doesn't do enough to stop it.

Resolution: The rich person goes and gets their modest boo and they live happily ever after.

 

- To impress their inquisitive family, a single person fakes having a boo - no strings attached. There's drama when the family finds out, plus they've actually developed feelings for each other - but neither wants to vocalize it, so they break up.

Resolution: Somebody decides to be brave enough to share their feelings and they get back together. The family is thrilled.

 

***

 

Don't get me wrong, I will watch all these familiar plots during the holidays. I can't, however, tell you the names of most of them. And I can usually tell in the first 5 minutes which of the above plots it's going to be and how it's going to end up.

 

That's why many holiday movies outside of those re-used story-lines are more memorable:

 

- It's a Wonderful Life

- The Santa Clause

- A Christmas Story 

- Miracle on 34th Street

- Elf

- Jingle Jangle

- Home Alone

- Die Hard

- Preacher's Wife

- The Polar Express

- Plus, Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc.

 

And even though While You Were Sleeping combines some of the plot lines above, it does it well.

 

Predictable or not, I still love Christmas and Christmas movies.

 

 

Won’t You Miss the Weather?

“Won’t you miss the weather?”

That’s the question I was asked most when I shared that I was leaving California and moving back to the East Coast.

Only now, six months later, have I really been able to process that question.

Won’t I miss “THE WEATHER”?? The Weather. Really?

After living in California for 20 years, the first thought Californians have is “won’t I miss the weather?”

The short answer is easy. No.

I will miss the people I love. I will miss my friends. I will miss my church. I will miss my job, coworkers, staff, teachers, students, families.

I will even miss some of the places I loved to frequent – restaurants, the Grove, theme parks, museums, and sometimes...the beach.

I will miss seeing movies first. I love movie screenings. I love going to the Academy during Oscars week to see the shorts and animated films.

The weather is low on my list, if it makes the list at all. Mostly because I have heat intolerance so extremely hot weather is not good for me. I pass out. Also, because I love the change of seasons. Fall on the East Coast is my favorite time of year. And, I am actually one of those rare people who loves snow and colder weather. It doesn’t bother me. I can always layer up. There’s only so much you can take off when you’re hot.

But let’s get back to the original question. “Won’t you miss the weather?”

If I was leaving any other state to move to any other state, that would not be the first question.

In fact, when I’ve moved from other states to go back to California (I’ve lived there three times), no one in those other states asked me if I was moving to California for the weather.

People are my priority. Relationships, real relationships, are my priority. True friendships. Close family ties are my priority.

Even after being in Cali for 20 years (this last stretch), I never got used to being penciled in, no-shows at hosted events, flakes, not being able to visit close friends and family without calling, not seeing people I love who live in the same city - for months at a time. I never got used to people asking “Who else is coming?” when being invited to private events at my home. I never got used to not having close enough relationships that I could just come over and hang out with no agenda.

MY home was that way. Everyone knew my door was open. I had friends come over and spend the night – even though they lived locally. Sometimes they just wanted to get away, and they knew my home was the place to do that.

I hosted Thanksgiving dinner annually for those who couldn’t go back home, or those who just wanted to share a meal with family. I usually hosted Easter dinner, as well. I had annual Oscar parties. I organized birthday celebrations, for myself and for others. I coordinated group movie and theater outings. (Still do – even though I’m now 3,000 miles away!)

Back on the East Coast, not only do and will I still do those things, my friends and family here do them, as well. Game nights, girls nights out (or in), family dinners, birthday celebrations, day parties – these are regular occurrences here.

I am always welcome at my sisters’ homes. We have each other’s keys. We don’t need to call first – unless we want to confirm they’re in town.

 “Won’t I miss the weather?” Give me a break! No! I will NOT miss the weather. I will miss the people I love.

Ironically but fortunately, I see many of the Cali people I love even more than I did when I lived there so, thankfully, I haven’t had to miss them too much.

Relationships are my priority. They are what I care about. Not the weather.

Constantly Thinking…(not about the weather)

My Favorite Christmas Memories

What are your favorite Christmas memories? Here are just a few of mine.

Tobogganing with my Dad and siblings, then coming home to drink hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols with the family, while my Mom played the piano. All-time favorite Christmas memory.

Spending Christmas with our God-family who was staying with us. The tree was filled with Christmas presents. Seeing the joy on the kids' faces was priceless.

Many of my recent favorite Christmas memories revolve around the Christmas productions I've been blessed to write, direct and produce. The behind-the-scenes stories are what create the unforgettable memories.

The Gift Giver - during our first run of this sweet play, we had auditions for the little ones who had to go see Santa. Every time they sat on our talented actor's lap, they completely forgot their scripted lines. When he asked them, "And what would you like for Christmas?" They'd respond with their actual Christmas list. It was sweet, precious and hilarious.

A Christmas Wish - during our second run of this touching production, our amazing lead actor was actually a former member of the military - similar to the role he was playing. He was scheduled to be in a wedding out of state for the final night of the production. We prayed for a miracle, and sure enough, circumstances shifted and he was able to stay for the full run of production. He brought his daughters to see the show and shared that the play made them even closer.

The first time we did Emmanuel - God With Us. The lives that were changed. The life-long friendships that were formed. My parents flew out for the show. Their lives were changed.

Starting the family tradition six years ago of flying to the East Coast to spend Christmas with one of my very best friends.

Christmas is and has always been a special time of year for me. I love the music, the decorations, the food, but especially the spirit of giving and time spent with family and friends.

I enjoy my Christmas memories from years' past, and I love creating new Christmas memories.

Merry Christmas, everyone.