A Charlie Brown Christmas

Ashlyn is on the couch watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.  I can hear it from the family room.  35 years ago, I would have been in there watching it, too.  But I am spoiled now and with the slightest twitch of the wrist, I can slide that DVD in the player and enjoy the ridiculous antics of Snoopy on the ice rink any time I like.
But it wasn't always like that.  When I was a kid, this time of year meant a lot of things, including knowing when the specials were on.  With TV Guide in hand, I would sit on the couch and carefully page through to find A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed  Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and if I were really lucky, A Year Without a Santa Claus.   There were other specials, too.  There was one with mice and a clock.  There was The Little Matchgirl and The Little Drummer Boy, too.  But these weren't as good as the first ones I mentioned.  Luckily, they were usually aired back to back on Sunday nights.  And with only three channels to check in the TV Guide, I never missed them!
I also had a softcover book of A Charlie Brown Christmas that my oldest brother gave me.  I still have it.  The cover is torn and the pages are dogeared, but it is one of my most favorite books.  I also had the book and album of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  It was narrated by Boris Karloff and was fantastic.
There was also a random singer or movie star that would have a Christmas Special.  There would be a few skits, a special guest or two and lovely music.  Mom and Dad usually watched that show with me.  I don't remember any specific shows, but Julie Andrews and Paul Williams come to mind. 
After we got cable and HBO, I was introduced to Freddy the Freeloader starring Red Skelton and Emmit Otter's Jug Band Christmas created by Jim Henson.  We watched Freddy the Freeloader for the first time in twenty years last year and it still is as sweet and warm as I remember. 
My kids have added to the must see Christmas movies.  There is now Elf and A Christmas Story.  A Christmas Story is older, but somehow, I never saw that one as a kid.  We also watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation quite faithfully.  A Muppet Christmas Carol is the sweetest Christmas movie I know.  Even after watching it a trillion times, knowing Tiny Tim makes it in the end makes me smile.  I think the fact that Tiny Tim is played by a little frog makes it all the more appealing.
My first Christmas in Southern California, with Danny away and me and the kitties making the best of it, I bought my first holiday movie.  White Christmas starring Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.  Two of the greatest Christmas crooners the God ever made.  I watched this movie every day.  I had it on constantly because it reminded me of home and of Danny far away.  And Bing Crosby's rendition of White Christmas is my hands down favorite Christmas song ever. 
I think these movies offer a trip down memory lane, a sweet escape, an hour or two where the real world is shut off and a winter wonderland prevails.  When the opening number starts to play, all of us gravitate to the family room.  The couch gets a little more crowded.  And our spirits get that needed holiday boost.