‘A Christmas Story’ One of My Favorite Christmas Stories

My favorite holiday movie is “A Christmas Story.” It’s also my wife’s favorite holiday movie. I had actually never even seen it before we met. Needless to say, she kind of got me hooked when we started dating. I honestly think, during the holiday season, she plays the movie more often than TBS does on Christmas day.

When we first started dating I noticed that she had a rifle hidden in the corner of her bedroom. I asked, “Why do you have a gun?” She looked at me, stunned, with her mouth dropped open, and said, “It’s a Red Ryder BB gun from ‘A Christmas Story.’”

That was my first introduction to the movie.

A Christmas Story

I’m glad she introduced me to it because it’s one of the most well-written family movies ever. The film is based on the writings of humorist Jean Shepherd and features the life of Ralphie Parker, portrayed by Peter Billingsley, and his quest to get a coveted Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas.

I hope I’m not spoiling anything here by saying he finally does get one and nearly shoots his eye out. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch TBS on Christmas day at any hour.

My Christmas Story

Last Christmas season my wife, her parents, and I traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for our aunt’s college graduation. We stayed in a downtown hotel across from Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cavaliers. Unbeknownst to us, the actual leg lamp from “A Christmas Story” was in the plaza of the hotel.

I read the literature surrounding it and learned that the movie took place in Cleveland. The actual Parker house was in the area, and a lot of the landmarks seen in the movie resided there as well. My wife, her parents, aunt, and I visited Higbee’s department store, where Ralphie asked Santa for the rifle. We drove past the family residence only to find a line wrapped around the house. Everyone wanted to get a glimpse of history.

Christmas Is About Family

What’s amazing is that as much as I love this movie, I never knew that it took place in Cleveland. What a nice surprise to find this out when all we planned to do was go to a college graduation. My favorite holiday movie became much more special. Now, whenever we watch “A Christmas Story,” it brings our family that much closer.

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