Lessons Learned From Christmas

This post finds me in Layton, UT at the Clark home. Somehow the chaos feels like home, and we're looking forward to ringing in the New Year with a raucous party--at least until midnight (The only thing worse for New Year's than it falling on Sunday is when New Year's Eve falls on Sunday).

While I have a moment, a few comments and commentary on this past Christmas:

• The book A Christmas Carol provides an infinitely more enjoyable experience than any of the movies can provide. Dickens' playful narration is the main reason, though the movies also miss nuance (perhaps generally true of movies). For instance, in the book the Ghost of Christmas future actually shows some kinds of kindness at the end when Scrooge has seen his grave and is pleading for a 2nd chance. It changes the whole perception of the ghost that seems impossible given how the movies seem compelled to portray him (or could the Ghost be a her?).
• We never repent of having eating too little.
• Even on vacation now, my work never leaves me.
• "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a fine movie. There've been some mediocre reviews, focusing apparently on the limitations of child actors and the fact that it's not The Lord of the Rings. I thought the movie a more than adequate adaptation, my only minor nitpick being that Aslan was not portrayed as being omniscient--apparently needing to question others to learn the fates of the children and others instead of questioning for the benefit of those he questions. I loved the soundtrack too.
• Those Christmas radio stations that stop abruptly the day after Christmas are a bit harsh. Especially given that most of us got that Monday off too in celebration of Christmas, at least try and ease us out of the season.
• Conversations on Christmas over the phone with family are a poor substitute for their company.
• Jared was far more excited about December 25th being his birthday than it being Christmas. He'd recently seen his mother blow out candles and thought it was the neatest thing he'd ever seen. Next year he may be more interested in Santa Clause, since he now knows that the wrapped boxes under the tree actually had toys in them.
• My parents threats to yet again cancel my Christmas after I exposed them in my last blog reveals just how little they've learned in the intervening years. For their sakes, I hope next year to find that Nintendo under my tree.
• Driving out of California takes 3 times as long as Mapquest indicates (15 mph for 2 hours out of San Bernadino County), and try to avoid Las Vegas at rush hour (again, 15 mph for 1.5 hours).
• The proffering of cheap buffets at the Casinos in Mesquite, NV is supplemented by long lines and the smell of entrenched cigarette smoke.
• Never stop in Mesquite, NV except for gas.

Now let's see if we can survive New Year's and the drive back to Irvine on Jan. 2d.