By David Glenn
It’s probably pretty cliché to say this, but Christmas is my favorite holiday. I grew up loving the lights and magic this season brings, and the spirit I feel is always welcoming. Still, I have to admit there were a few times that Christmas had its downsides.
One such instance goes back to when I was a boy living in Anchorage, Alaska. I was getting my breakfast when we ran out of milk. At this point we were using carton containers, so I grabbed another assuming it was more milk. It was after I poured it into my cereal and took a bite that I noticed something.
It didn’t taste like milk.
I looked at the carton, and realized I had instead grabbed the eggnog! Needless to say I didn’t enjoy eggnog in my cereal. I also committed to never drinking eggnog again, which I broke this year. Still, I look back and chuckle to myself at that mishap.
At least no one was recording to send to AFV.
But I still enjoy the Christmas season year after year despite the eggnog incident. Still, it wasn’t the only mishap to happen to me around Christmastime during my childhood. There was one time during one year where I almost broke the rule to not open presents until Christmas morning. Hey, it’s always hard to wait for that special morning.
Plus it never made sense to me why I saw presents under the tree before Christmas morning, especially since they were supposed to be delivered from Santa on Christmas Eve.
Anyway, I noticed that there was one particularly large present with my name on it. I did my best to stay away and wait until Christmas morning. However, I kept coming back to it, and it didn’t help that that year we had the tree set up next to the stairs. Plus that present was at the back of the tree, which was against the railing that kept people from falling from the living room down the stairs.
Temptation got the better of me and I started opening it. It wasn’t humongous. It started with a tiny tear, and then I kept coming and taking a bit more and more. I could see what was underneath was bright and attractive. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I couldn’t stop myself.
Just a little bit here. Okay, go away.
Back again. What is it? Maybe just a little more.
Wow, this is… what am I getting? I have to know.
Thankfully, someone heard paper tearing, and my parents came over with our friends and saw what I had done. I don’t remember if I got into trouble or not, but I know I didn’t do it again after that. Thankfully I didn’t end up on Santa’s naughty list, though the next day the hole in the wrapping was gone.
I’m pretty sure someone wrapped it again.
Just so you know what it was that had caught my attention, it was a board game called Pokémon Master Trainer.
It was so beautiful to my younger mind. My brothers and I loved playing that game so much over the years it’s a miracle it still has all the pieces. I don’t know where it ended up, but I do know it’s still in my family’s possession.
Nowadays I love just being able to be with my family for the holidays. We’ve all grown up and moved across the country, but seeing everyone make the effort to be together for this special time of year brings a smile to my face. Even as we face the challenges of raising the next generation of our family, I look forward to making new memories and even seeing what mishaps will come our way as my nephews and nieces grow up.