"8 Bit Christmas"...A True Gem

 Things (it seems...) were simpler in the 1980s. Maybe they seem simpler because there were fewer things, fewer people, fewer cars, fewer, channels to watch, fewer forms of entertainment.

When it comes to Christmas entertainment, there seemed to be fewer things, too. There was no Hallmark Channel or Lifetime Channel or half a dozen other channels that played Christmas movies from Halloween to New Years (and again in July...). No, back then, if you wanted to see a new Christmas movie, you had to get off your behind, get in a car, and go to a movie theater to see it.

That's where I saw A Christmas Story, and that's just the way it was.

It's been so long since I sat in a theater and watched A Christmas Story. It's such a classic, and even though I did not grow in in the 1930s when the show was set, I think every child can identify with not getting what they want for Christmas, or if not Christmas, wanting something so badly, you think of nothing else.

I've often wondered it there would be another film that could capture the joy, the innocence of A Christmas Story. 

I think we found one.

Last night my wife and I decided to check out a new film. With so many to chose from, you never know if they'll be good or not. I had just read a tweet from someone that said they saw a show called 8 Bit Christmas and they loved it. We thought we'd give it a shot.

Wonderful, lovely show!

8 Bit Christmas is the story of a boy not wanting a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas, but something even more unobtainable to a child without means in the late 1980s...A Nintendo Entertainment System. Once again, this was not my age group--this time I was a little older than the child, but so much of it hit home. And the performances by the child actors were exceptional. Crisp funny writing, believable family situations, over-the-top (at times...) memories of childhood. It all added up to a gem of a little story.

Because we live in such an amazing time, we can watch our favorite Christmas movies whenever we want. I believe we'll be adding 8 Bit Christmas to our collection of favorites. And I didn't even have to go to the theater to see it.

Starting A New Tradition...Christmas Karaoke

 People have gone without this year, some more than others. One thing we've done with out is singing. We normally participate in our church Christmas program...this year, nope. 

My wife and I are singers, or at least we used to be--she more than me. She even used her voice to earn college scholarships. That was decades ago. It's been so long since either of us used to sing on a daily basis for school, church, or just for fun. It was her idea to sing some Christmas songs in the front room the other night.

The results were mixed...our voices are not used to singing...you could hear the neglect, years out of practice. But you could also hear a sound missing for so long--music. I forget how much I enjoy hearing sung songs and you can't beat Christmas time for good songs to sing.

We sang the one night and we may again before the season's over. I know we need more practice--it doesn't sound much like it once did, but darn...it was fun.