All We Want for Christmas…

Jeanna G3 Comments

I watched the movie 8-Bit Christmas the other day. Being a child of the 80s, I could totally empathize with the main character, and his sister, for that matter. He wanted a Nintendo and she wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll, and I wanted both.

Growing up in a full house, I got used to hand-me-downs. My mom still buys us stuff from the thrift store. So I was bowled over when we all got Cabbage Patch Kids and a Nintendo. My mom worked her butt off to get us not just what we needed, but what we wanted, too. Well, the apple doesn’t fall far, because I also go overboard at Christmas, even though I have to work extra hard to make sure of it.

So I was bit perplexed the other day when my mom made some comment about my sister and me spending an extravagant amount of money on Christmas. My daughter, who also didn’t fall far from the tree, was sure to correct her and point out that Santa did the giving. And I just shook my head, because I’m sure, if she took a Juvenescent Junket, she’d remember that all she wanted for Christmas was to make us happy, no matter what the cost, and she shouldn’t be surprised we’d want the same.

Super-Kids

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Recently at work I was commiserating with a coworker about a similar issue we were experiencing, but needed to solve separately. She wished me luck and, with a fist raised in the air, I responded in my best manly voice, “I have the power!” She looked at me like I was crazy (not a rarity between us), but she’s also close to half my age, so she didn’t get my nod to He-Man.

As a child, I thought I was Wonder Woman. I introduced myself as Diana Prince (except it sounded like “Pwince”). I would twirl around in the yard, simulating my change into superheroine status. I had the lasso of truth, the bullet-deflecting bracelets, the tiara, and the invisible plane, all in my imagination, of course. The plane was the easiest to convince others that I had since, well, it was invisible.

I also had a slight obsession with He-Man. I had the action figure, including his trusty allies, Battle Cat, and the goofy sorcerer, Orko. Castle Greyskull was a show-stopping gift at my 5th birthday party. Oh boy, were my friends jealous! I loved the show, and I loved He-Man, the Most Powerful Man in the Universe!

I find it amusing that more than 35 years later, I’m still referencing this character when I need a boost of courage. It makes me wonder who kids are looking up to these days. In 30 years, when they’re feeling anxious or need to solve a problem, will they ask themselves, “What would my role models do?” And if so, what would be their next steps? Kids are watching TikTokers copy ten second dance routines. Will they try to dance their way out a situation? They watch YouTubers play with toys, experiment with life hacks, and recreate things that already exist. Will future adults have any confidence or imagination to try things on their own and figure things out for themselves? I hope Superheroes last forever, so that good will always win, and so that Super-Kids will become Super-Adults, who will always be strong and courageous. I know what lessons I’m teaching my Super-Kid!

Full of Wonder!

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Jeanna GLeave a comment

This weekend I’m staying in Zirconia, NC, one of many towns nestled in the great Appalachian Mountains. On our drive into Flat Rock for lunch, we passed an apple orchard on one of the hairpin turns down the mountain. I stuck it in my mental Rolodex, and when I was not in danger of getting car sick, I typed the orchard’s name into my search engine and read to my group all of the reasons why we should stop there on the way home.

My gift of persuasion worked and we were soon chasing my daughter and my friend’s son around the many unique playhouses alongside the orchard. My daughter and I savored the warm, melt-in your-mouth, apple cider doughnuts. The scent of home-baked apple pies drifted into my senses, which drew us into the main building. It was then that I was transported back to childhood.

The tables of apple varieties, the bushel baskets, scales, and presses. People pulling their wagons and sipping their hot cider. With a blink of my eyes, I was back at Nestrovich’s Orchard in Granville, MA, following my mom around, ready to pick some apples.

🍏 A Gala of Apples 🍎

Beyond there, we found billy goats to pet and apples to launch from a cannon. We returned to imbibe hot cider and apple slushies, and were delighted in finding apple butter to bring back home.

If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I love to do things. All the things. Usually one time is enough. But this… walking through the orchard, mountain top vistas, peaceful motions and thoughtful considerations of a future filled with pies and sauce and family gatherings… this should be done annually, a tradition. How distinctive a moment that, all at once, you can be reminded of something you didn’t know you missed, but you realize you’ve missed very much, and now you’ll be sure not to miss again. Now how do you like them apples?