Apparently “Assassin’s Creed Unity” video game is big stuff. It was due out one month ago and it is “late”. Grasshopper No.5’s parent company (GameStop) sells the game and had planned on super sales over the Holidays. Because Assassin’s Creed Unity was delayed, Gamestop announced their earnings would be slightly reduced. Whoa! Gamestop stock dropped 20% this morning. What is so great about the game?
Your Mom and I went to see A Christmas Story at the PAC (Performing Arts Center) last night. Your Mom indicates that you kids talk about the film version during the Holidays all the time. Why haven’t I ever seen the film?
As you know a 10-12 year old boy (I’ll call him Henry) wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. His parents don’t want him to “shoot his eye out” because the guns were dangerous. I remember those warnings. The difference is the Henry got his gun in the end and I didn’t. No wonder I have issues with the concept of Santa Claus.
Henry inadvertently got mad during the play and used the “f” word. Whoops! I know that I didn’t originally learn the “f” word at home. I got it from my buddies (or maybe from some tavern patrons). Do you remember the first time you heard and used the “f” word.
Henry’s family lived in a home with a coal fired furnace. It developed “clinkers” as a result of the residual parts of coal that didn’t burn. Henry’s Dad spent a lot of time in the play getting rid of clinkers. If you didn’t get the clinkers out of the furnace it could belch and the fire could actually be smothered out. The City Club had a big, big coal fired furnace. My job was to keep the coal fed into the furnace and “get the clinkers out”. I remember opening the furnace front door and reaching in with a 20 foot long tongs to remove hot clinkers. My thought was “this must be what Hell is like”.
Henry also got a fuzzy bunny set of pajamas (including the ears) from an aunt. It was hideous. My brother Jack and I got matching red fleece “pull over” jackets one Christmas. They were just as stupid as the “bunny outfit”. The worst part is my parents couldn’t stop taking pictures because they were so proud of their purchase. Jack and I never let our buddies see the fleece jackets.
I guess I am now obligated to see the movie, A Christmas Story. It does take you back in time.
Every kid has a “dream gift” they wanted Santa Claus to bring. What was yours?
Love,
Dad