christmas

For the past few years, I have invited people over on Christmas Day to watch movies.  I have every single big new movie that’s out.  I have a comfortable (albeit small) living room.  And I have a decent TV (though 46 inches is starting to feel like my old 27 inch).

Preparation is minimal:  popcorn, candy, homemade (by me) chocolate chip cookies, grapes, soft drinks and water.  All junk, except for the fruit.

There is some kid-connection among all the people who come this afternoon.  Linda and I met at a Single Mothers By Choice meeting in 1991 when we were both single and pregnant.  Carol and I became friends around 1999, when our sons became best buds in first grade at Manhattan New School.  And while Shari and I had a mutual friend, it wasn’t until our sons cemented a friendship in middle school at Horace Mann that we became good friends; that was 2005.  Shari brought her husband and Carol brought a male friend.  No one really knows each other, but it doesn’t matter.  We spend the afternoon watching Her, a smart movie directed and written by Spike Jonze (born Adam Spiegel).  I think it’s just  okay, though everyone else likes it.  And it does spark a good conversation about social alienation and electronics.

Continuing with the theme of bad-eating, we order in pizza for dinner.  Robyn stops by, and Stew and Shari leave. Our next movie is The Book Thief — a film that is interesting only in it’s ability to remain dull, despite its story of Nazi’s, beautiful children, good people, and bad Germans.  

Even still, movies, bad food and good friends are a nice way to spend Christmas Day.

Carol, Robyn, and Linda