When I decided to write a string of stories about past Christmas Breaks (only on years ending in two or seven this time), I hadn’t realized the significance of 1987 until I started thinking about it. Nineteen-eighty-seven was the last one my immediate family and maternal grandparents spent together, ending an 18-year streak. I’m sure if anyone knew this and what the future held, we all probably would’ve stopped taking the routine for granted.
Other than getting to bum around, sleeping late, eating too much and catching up on television, I know I was pretty excited about Brian’s gift; an autographed copy of Emo Philips’ album E=MO2 because I got to meet him earlier that year. I remembered how much Brian liked Emo’s material. Sadly, my memory was flawed. Brian was into the comedian two years ago so the autograph saying “Hey Brian, juxtapose your vowels and be a Brain” went over poorly. I experienced the defeat my grandparents felt years before when they gave me binoculars as a graduation present in 1982; “Oh, wow, you really shouldn’t have.”
Mom and Dad drove from San Diego to attend. They had only moved there in August so they felt they weren’t settled in enough to host. I’m confident Grandpa would hop in his car and go in a heartbeat, he did with Houston and Indianapolis. Grandma had become extremely sedentary in her ways which prevented them from ever going despite better weather.
Overall, it was a mediocre, uneventful time. Gifts were given. Old arguments welled up. Again, everybody was going through the motions which probably explained why my parents never bothered coming out to Bloomington, IL for Christmas any longer. I could be wrong since I don’t recall what everyone did after 1994. I also remember being more pre-occupied in either seeing my current girlfriend Stephanie (unless she disagrees on the title) or trying to find a way to hang with Paul in Chicago for New Year’s Eve.
The upside was twofold for me. Going someplace nicer for Christmas and New Year’s became the more immediate goal; this did happen the following year with San Diego. The uglier, long-term result was set in motion for me too…not being really keen on Christmas and becoming a bigger fan of New Year’s Eve/Day. I don’t think the latter was such a bad development because Christmas is stressful in America, especially around my family. New Year’s is a more sedate, contemplative and reflective holiday, after the drinking, puking and hangovers are tackled.