Happiness is a warm TV
Last week of December: it's that time of the year. 'Tis the season to be jolly. Or really depressed, it depends.
Why do we like, or hate, Christmas so much? I guess we are always, unconsciously, comparing our present Christmases to one of long time ago, when we were kids, at home from school after performing in a nativity play or singing carols, marveling at the decorated tree, enjoying the colorful lights, the sweets and presents galore, playing with siblings and cousins and with our new toys. Before we had to worry about buying presents and decorations and cooking festive dishes. And about life, you know. Since then, every year we hopelessly try to recapture that magic.
It does never really work. But sometimes we get close enough.
So let's take a moment to remember those times and be grateful. Close your eyes, look into your heart and think of the most beautiful Christmas you've had since you grew up.
So many heart warming memories...
Personally, I will never forget the time when Ross dressed as theHoliday Armadilloto teach his son about Hanukah.
Or when everybody for once stood by Charlie Brown and his sad looking tree. And it started to snow.
It feels like yesterday when the Cunninghams convinced the Fonz to come over for Christmas.
Or when Santa's Little Helper became part of the Simpsons family. And Lily became the Grinch.
And Seth introduced us to Chrismukkah.
And what about that time Rebecca embraced West Covina as her new home and sang about the beauty of sunny California Christmas?
I remember when Abed transported all his study group friends to a stop motion animated cartoon in search of the meaning of Christmas.
And don't make me start on the Festivus...
What? Those moments were not real?
Are we really sure?
But I laughed so hard at that surreal giant armadillo and I related to the difficulty and quijotesque effort of a parent against the mainstream culture; I loved how instead Seth found a way to enjoy the good in Christmas without forgetting his beliefs; I cheered when Santa's Little Helper saved the Simpsons' Christmas; I hummed to Rebecca's song; I was so relieved the Fonz and Lily the Grinch overcame their pride and got together with the people they loved.
I was amused by Festivus and the airing of grievances, demystifying all the Christmas rethoric about everybody being good with each other. And at the same time I was sincerely moved by Abed's rare emotional bareness and desperate search for a meaning in Christmas.
And I felt the love around Charlie Brown.
Yes it all felt real enough to me. No less than that time I played the shepherd in the kindergarten's nativity play or sang carols carrying candles around the house with my little cousins. As Homer Simpson said when accused of confusing reality and fiction, “Those were all happy days”.
And if you don't get it, well, you're stuck with the life you have ;)