TMT: Chagrin Eve
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time, a series that was begun here. Not everything happens in the distant past. Movies and life don’t have to be churned over and thought about for years to reach an understanding. Sometimes, the mortification need only steep a short while to fully mature, even if the statute of limitations remains in full effect. Such was the case over this most recent of holiday seasons.
“Honest, Officer…my wife picked this.”
Theatre
Movie
Time
December 24, 2014: I’ll always remember our Christmas Eves. Those family get-togethers (on my mother’s side) when all my aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather at grandma’s house the night before just rocked. Well, for everyone who could walk, that is. Mom’s RA progressed to the point of needing a wheelchair to get about, and be lifted up stairs, that it cut short this yuletide tradition on her behalf.
The rest of the family carried on. The adults ate, drank, and talked…we kids only waited till it was time to open presents. In younger days, didn’t happen till around midnight. Became earlier after years of, “Is it time, yet?” wore down those still sober enough to actually care. It’s the little things that bring those toasty moments, isn’t it? By the time we’d reach adulthood, saw what we’d wrought when it came our turn.
Today, few aunts, and even fewer uncles, are left. Christmas Eve as a gathering point now scattered to the winds. Now more for individual families we’d split into for the 21st century. No shock my small clan had no plans this Eve. What to do? Naturally I offered my usual standby: dinner and a movie. My teen children responded with, “Yeah!” My bride just gave me the eye-roll. I’m so predictable.
Couple of years ago on New Year’s Eve, we’d done “Argo” together over at the Pacific Culver Stadium 12. Had a good time, too. Why not again? Even offering to my ever-tolerant spouse, “You can pick the movie. Whatever you want.” Climbed into the car with that. Not surprisingly, parking and getting tickets proved remarkably easy. Most folks sequestered home, or heading to family gatherings. “The lucky ones.”, someone would say.
Partially amazed my wife selected Top Five from the movie theater’s showtime kiosk. Both of us being longtime fans of comedian, and budding filmmaker, Chris Rock. Yes, the “R” rating probably caused some hesitation on her part, but we both thought our 19 year-old son and 15 year-old daughter were mature enough to handle whatever Santa had in store for us as a family. Or so we innocently thought.
All that before André Allen, as interviewed by Chelsea Brown, each came clean to how they had “bottomed out” in life and relationships, that is.
“Best Christmas movie ever, dad.” ~ my daughter was heard to say when “those” scenes landed
The entire TMT series can be found here. If you’re interested how it’s put together, click here.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
10 Responses to “TMT: Chagrin Eve”
Dinner and a movie sounds like the perfect Christmas Eve to me!
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Always a great option in my book. Thanks, Abbi. 🙂
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I don’t ever recall going to the movies on Christmas or Christmas Eve. This always seems like a stay at home time to me whether family is there or not. I’ve always been puzzled as to why there are so many Christmas Day releases of big movies. I guess that holiday movie going is not so strange to a lot of people.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
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For most of my life, the eve and holiday were spent at home. Near family. Still keep mine close, but now just drag them with me. Thanks, Lee. 🙂
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Sounds like a fun Christmas movie indeed, glad your kids enjoyed it too. I haven’t seen this one but I’d have to give it a rent now.
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It was an eye-opener. Chris Rock’s meta-rom-com is unique. In keeping with the comedian’s style of humor, that’s for sure. When you encounter “those scenes” I’ve hinted at, you’ll see why we were a bit mortified as parents having brought our 15 year old daughter to this. Our son just cracked up. Don’t get me wrong, though. I really enjoyed this film by Chris Rock. In fact, my favorite movie couple of 2014 were André Allen and Chelsea Brown. Thanks, Ruth. 🙂
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I’ll definitely watch out for that scene you’re referring to! I kind of expect something a bit risque from Chris Rock but glad to hear about its unique story. I quite like Rosario Dawson, too!
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Another great entry in this strand. Always interesting to read your takes my friend.
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Thank you so much, Mark. Much appreciated, my friend. 🙂
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[…] Cousin kinship lasted when numerous other attachments couldn’t over the many years. More than a few of our meetings involved movies, as parents and aunts prepped film into her gene expression, as well. So when Apollo 13, the debuting summer film of the ill-fated moon mission (something we both experienced while in the same high school), us “cousins” plotted once more — our Christmas Eve conspiracies being legendary. […]
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