A Christmas Confession

One of the things I look forward to during Christmas is watching Christmas movies. And by movies I mean the oldies:

Miracle on 34th Street, either version

A Christmas Carol, the 1984 version with George C Scott as Scrooge

It’s a Wonderful Life

White Christmas

What’s not on the list?

I’ve never seen the movie. The one everyone says is the funniest Christmas movie. I confess, I’ve never seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Even worse, I really have no desire to see what I’m missing. I can almost hear the moans and cries of disbelief. The movie is on every list of Best Christmas Comedies, or Best Christmas Movies. Others, like Elf and The Santa Clause, also make all those lists and I’ve seen them and laughed. But for some reason, no love for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I thought Chevy was funny in some SNL skits, but not so much in other things. So I hesitate to give in and watch his Christmas fare, thinking I’ll not find it funny and then feel even more out of sync with all those who love it. All the cultural references to it are lost on me, and that’s ok.

But that’s one of the great things about humor, there’s a broad spectrum of what we think is funny. Thankfully there are like-minded, creative people who make us laugh wherever we land. Of course I’m on the end that’s odd and quirky. The comic strip Lio gets me giggling and so does the tv show Big Bang Theory. I love how that twisted humor twists my brain and makes me smile. Family, friends and human nature can also set me off. A good laugh is good for the soul.

What about you? What or whom do you find funny? In this coming year when we’re facing real challenges, where will you look for levity? And just as important, have you seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? I hear it’s quite funny.