For those of you who feel like I do, Christmas has really been sneaky this year. I have not so much as set foot in a mall, and although I only have days to complete shopping and other holiday preparations, it still feels like I have weeks to do so. I am totally unprepared for all of the responsibilities that go along with celebrating Christmas.
I guess now I must resign myself to the fact that people who receive gifts from me this year will be getting picked over items available at the last minute. Hopefully, my lack of preparation will just be another funny Christmas memory down the road, although if my wife doesn’t get the massage gift certificate she has been angling for over the last 11 months, I doubt she will find the humor in the situation. “I know you wanted a massage honey, but here is a nice grill cover instead.”
Christmas is not supposed to be about presents anyway. I have experienced several Christmases already, and can barely remember most of the presents I have received over the years. The thing that lingers is time spent with family, especially if you are lucky enough to have a family as weird as mine.
As early as I can remember liking sports, I have looked forward to Christmas Day NBA games. Unfortunately, I have grown up in a family whose television viewing decisions on holidays boil down to a choice between the James Bond or John Wayne movie marathons. There is nothing like Christmas with the Duke.
I am pretty sure my uncles have never even worn a pair of shorts, let alone high-top sneakers (work boots are good for any occasion), so suffice it to say they don’t get what is so special about Rip Hamilton’s movement without the basketball.
The battles over the television, however, have taught me the importance of punctuality. When a really good game has been on, I have been sure to arrive 1-2 hours early for Christmas just to control the TV. One thing I have figured out is if they cannot find the remote, they are not going to leave their recliners to manually change the channel.
This year has even more promise for holiday memories. I was signed up to participate in my wife’s family gift exchange, with the catch being that all gifts must be homemade. Not only do I now have to finish up my Christmas shopping, but I have to make some sort of craft to give to her cousin and still preserve any shred of masculinity that I have left.
Every family has their own unique (strange) traditions at Christmas time. Many people spend the holidays fretting things such as gifts or making sure the house is spotless or finding the perfect recipe. The details are nice, but holiday memories are made from the individual quirks of families and family members.
The Grand Blanc View would like to wish our readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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