Grumpy Santa and the Non-Conformists

So last night Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was on TV.  This is a highly anticipated event for me each year right along with The Grinch, The Year without a Santa Claus, etc.  Love ‘em!  However, the more I write, the more I notice things about the way movies and books are written, hidden meanings, clues . . . you get the point.  This is not a negative for me.  In fact I thrive on it.  Anyway, while watching this 1964 classic, I put aside my childlike glee for a moment and viewed the movie through my analytical glasses.  You know what I discovered?  The younger generation is probably appalled by this movie.   Political Correctness is nowhere to be found.  Not everyone wins a soccer trophy in this movie!

The Santa in this particular movie I found to be a predominantly crotchety old fellow.  First of all, he’s going to cancel Christmas because of a little snow.  Now you’d think having lived at the North Pole all his life that he’d have this gig covered by now.  Secondly, he admonishes Rudolph’s father for the fact that Rudolph has a red nose stating “ . . . you should be ashamed of yourself”.  Then, after the elves have sung him a beautiful song, “We are Santa’s Elves”, he mumbles that the song needs more work, gets up and scurries out the door slamming it.  Mrs. Claus of course tries to cover for his rudeness.   Is this grumpy Santa the one we really want to be leaving us presents under our tree?  Fortunately he gets in a better mood by the end of the movie after realizing Rudolph can guide his sleigh with "that wonderful nose".

It’s interesting to note that the original 1964 movie didn’t have Santa returning to the Island of Misfit Toys as he promised.  Apparently there was a public outcry that Santa did not fulfill his promise to go to the island.  So in 1965 they rewrote the movie to include Santa’s journey to the island to pick up the misfits before delivering his toys.

Now for the non-conformists, Take Hermey.  This poor elf doesn’t like making toys.  He wants to be a dentist.  And what does everyone do?  Make fun of him.  Yell at him.  Of course the optimist in Hermey tries to fit in by fixing the teeth on the dolls, but the head elf tells him that no one wants a chewing doll (just wait until he sees the dolls of the 21^st century). 

Then Rudolph.  Well, you know, he has that red nose and all.  Heaven forbid!  We can’t have any of that.  He is promptly kicked off the flight team.  When his new girlfriend Clarice walks home with him, she is reprimanded for being seen with a red-nosed reindeer.  Again, can’t imagine this type of message being written into any of today’s current children movies.  Thank goodness Rudolph becomes the hero in the end.

Just imagine for a moment where we’d be without the non-conformists in society.  Does anyone know the highly successful names of Steve Jobs or even Lady Gaga?  Talk about thinking outside of the box.

But don’t take me wrong, I’m not trying to be the scrooge.  I still love these old animated movies.  I can’t help it.  I don’t care whether or not they are PC.  They bring joy to my heart and that’s what matters.  Therefore, in the future I can be found eagerly awaiting the Snow Miser and Heat Miser to make their appearance by dancing their way onto my TV screen.  Popcorn anyone?

The Journey

The Colorado November day was sunny, crisp and clear.  The muscles were sore and the nerves a bit frayed.  We left a day later than planned due to a few hiccups on the bank's end with getting the mortgage approved in time for the planned settlement date.  It wound up being pushed to the following Tuesday, but things were looking positive so we proceeded on with our move. 

We ran out of room in the Penske truck and wound up renting a 6 x 12 pull behind trailer too.  So our caravan consisted of my husband, Scott, driving the Penske and towing my car, while I drove the SUV with all three "kids" (two cocker spaniels and one kitty) and towed the trailer.  We left on a Friday afternoon and made it to Las Vegas, New Mexico that evening.  Saturday morning we were on the road by 8:30 and drove through a very windy section around Santa Fe.  Scott was barely able to go above 45 mph at that point, and I was feeling the trailer blow around a bit.  At this juncture I thought maybe we wouldn't make it to AZ until Thanksgiving!  But after finally getting through the rough spot we continued on without mishap.  It was a long drive, but the kids traveled really, really well.  We took an unplanned tour of Flagstaff when looking for gas (we always wanted to explore the area, just not exactly at that time. . . ) and got a little turned around, but once back on track arrived at our destination at around 8:00 pm.  Whew, finally made it.  After hauling that trailer, I'm ready for "Ice Road Truckers"!  (Okay, maybe not).

Monday was very busy with phone/Internet, Directv, and movers arriving to help unpack us.  It was a real Tetris puzzle trying to figure out what furniture would fit where (we downsized).  Scott was back to work by Monday afternoon in our makeshift "office", and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to make sense of the boxes piled neck high in our garage.  By Wednesday (having not hooked up the washer and dryer yet) I was on a mission to find Scott's jeans -- no success.  Thursday I again was on a mission to find Scott's jeans.  The good news was I got the closet organized, the bad news was, yea you guessed it, no jeans.  I wound up unpacking around 10 boxes that day (who knew we had so much ahem, crap) and by 3:30 -- eureka!  Jeans!  Happy day!

So while we are slowly getting unpacked, the kids are finally adjusting and curious to see what treasures I'm pulling out of each box next.  The boys are having fun exploring the property, while the cat is cautiously slipping into cabinets and nooks and crannies to see what hiding places she can find.

Having worked my entire adult life, it's been odd not to get up every morning and go to work, but I am welcoming the opportunity to actually organize the house for once after a move without jumping right back into work. 

Well, time to start unpacking boxes again.  Today's mission -- find the silverware and ditch the plastic forks!

Fondly,

Chris

P.S.  Saw our first Roadrunner this week right at our front window.  Very interesting bird.  Scott was totally intrigued, which isn't surprising since he owned two Roadrunner cars during his teenage years.