Tag: Holidays

From Action Figures to Experiences: Evolving Christmas Gifts

I got less toys as I got older, but that was okay with me. As a child, I couldn’t imagine a Christmas without toys under the tree, but your interests and hobbies change as you grow up. You could still call your presents “toys”, they’re just different kinds of toys.

A young child joyfully interacting with Santa Claus, holding a toy in a cozy living room decorated for Christmas.
Santa Claus came to visit me one day.

My family is asking me what I want for Christmas. This is a question I am faced with, not only for Christmas, but also for my birthday and Father’s Day.

It’s a question I have trouble answering. I knew how to answer it when I was younger. Kids have Christmas lists. They walk through toy store aisles seeing toys that look awesome, toys they remember other kids talking about at school or at practice, and toys they played with when at their friend’s house. It seemed easy back then to know what you want.

Gifts when I was Younger

Like most children, my tastes and interests changed over the years. He-Man was one of my favorites. I got Castle Grayskull for a birthday present. That was cool. On the following Christmas, I got some more Masters of the Universe action figures.

Do you remember Talking Baseball? It was an electronic baseball game that assembled the best of the best players in Major League Baseball. It was pretty much like the All-Star Game. The best players from each league were on a team, and you could choose between the American League or the National League. The version of the game I got came with a bonus cartridge that had a Hall of Fame Team. I was always the American League because that was the Boston Red Sox’ league. Great game.

A nostalgic scene of two children excitedly opening Christmas presents, surrounded by colorful gift wrap and boxes.
Unwrapping presents on Christmas Morning.
I’m on the left, “Talking Baseball” is
in front of me, recently opened.

If you’re a Gen-Xer like me, you probably got a Nintendo at one point. I got “The Legend of Zelda” at the same time I got my NES. I had heard of the game, but I didn’t know much else about it. I was hooked when I started playing. The Nintendo Switch has a downloadable NES package that has older games from the original console, and “Zelda” is one of the games you can play. I still play it.

My brother and I got a Super Nintendo for another Christmas. We also got “Tecmo Super Bowl”. The video games got better and better, especially the sports games. “Tecmo Super Bowl” allowed you to customize your playbook. You had a lot of plays to choose from, and you could have a different “playbook” each time you played.

I got less games as I got older, but that was okay with me. As a child, I couldn’t imagine a Christmas without toys under the tree, but your interests and hobbies change as you grow up. You could still call your presents “toys”, they’re just different kinds of toys.

A young child wearing a striped outfit sits on a ride-on toy in a kitchen, smiling and holding their head in a playful manner.
Me cruising around the house on one of my Christmas presents.

What do I Want for Christmas?

So, back to the original question: What do I want for Christmas? I have no idea. My TBR pile is high with leisurely reading and review requests. (I’m getting to the requests, I promise.) Beer? I drink that just about every day at work. Daddy’ liver needs a break from time to time.

Movies? I have a pile of movies that I haven’t unwrapped yet. Between work and familial duties, there isn’t much free time to sit down and watch a movie. Music is a safe bet, but the music stores are few and far between. Wife did a fantastic job one year of finding a treasure trove of CD’s for one of my birthdays. I don’t know how she did it, but she did. I was grateful for the fabulous gift.

I have enough clothes. My t-shirt drawer is overflowing, and my closet is full. I’m good with clothes, although my family might enjoy a word with you about updating my wardrobe.

What’s going to be under the Christmas tree this year? I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll start thinking about it so people will know what to get me when Christmas Morning rolls around. I can tell The Boy he can get me a pair of baseball gloves and a baseball, but I think he told me they stopped selling those things. Lovie could get be a gas card so the two of us can go on a road trip. I believe she converted to a religion where fast travel is a sin.

The family has taken a trip on Christmas in lieu of presents. Unfortunately, present circumstances have required us to stay local. Past Christmas trips have included Puerto Rico and New York City. While in Puerto Rico, we swam at the beach on Christmas Morning and worked on our tans. It was a Christmas unlike any other I celebrated before.

I’m going to think about what I want for Christmas. I promise. There is no doubt I can come up with some great ideas. My ideas are great, just ask The Boy. Whatever it is waiting for me under the Christmas tree, I’ll be excited to spend Christmas with my family.

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Travelling to San Juan and Warm Weather

Like last year, Wife and I thought it would be better to travel instead of buying Christmas presents. After looking at options and seeing who could accommodate seven people during the most wonderful time of the year, we decided Puerto Rico was the place to be.

As usual, there were many details to tend to before we could leave. Doggie needed a place to stay, and we needed someone to check on Kitty, making sure she had bowls full of food and water.

On the human side, we needed to make sure the Miracles of Christ had everything they needed clean and packed. I tried to help The Boy, but he insisted he was fine and didn’t need help from any adult in the house.

Travel Day

The day of our flight arrived. Christmas Eve. Everyone descended from their bedrooms upon the kitchen for a quick breakfast. After grabbing whatever we could find, we loaded our luggage and our bodies into the van and joined the countless other jolly travelers who ventured out to Logan International Airport.

Off to the store for a $10 bottle of water and a $20 bag of chips.

We arrived at Logan. Our flight was delayed two hours. It was a bitter pill to swallow, even if I was prepared with my book, crossword puzzles, and beef jerky. We had a five-hour flight ahead of us and the delay gave us time to kill. Off to the store for a $10 bottle of water and a $20 bag of chips.

We spent our time as best we could. I read some chapters and did some puzzles. We ate at a restaurant since people only ate a little something before high-tailing it to the airport. When we weren’t at the restaurant, I tried to coax the children into a game of cards. They declined. Back to my puzzles.

We Work Here? No Food?

After suffering in the cold purgatory of Boston, we were finally invited to board the plane. This was an airline we had never flown before and after sitting in seats that didn’t recline with small, barely usable tray tables, I doubt we’ll be flying this airline again. Bringing our own snacks and drinks meant we didn’t need to buy snacks from the airline.

That’s right. While most airlines at least gave you a can of Coca-Cola or a bag of pretzels, this airline didn’t. If you wanted something to tide you over during the 5-hour flight, you had to pay for it. You would think they would at least give you some pretzels after checking in yourself and your luggage.

San Juan

We touched down in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. Looking out the window, I noticed palm trees gently swaying. We have our luggage and all of our children. No matter how hard I try, I can’t lose any of the Miracles of Christ. We get a cab and take the short drive to our hotel.

Everyone changes out of their pants and long-sleeved shirts. It was single-digit temperatures back home. We change into shorts. Bathing suits. There is a pool at the hotel, and we’re going to use it. The Boy lives for the hotel pool and it’s going to get even better for him very soon.

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