Everything In Its Place

Every year one tv station plays "24 Hours of A Christmas Story" and every year, I have to watch it at least once. Just have to! I should just buy it and spare myself the accompanying dose of commercials, but for some reason, it's not the same. I've recorded it, but never watched it that way. It has to be "on tv" for some reason to elicit the same feeling. What is it about this story? And where is Peter Billingsley now?

I wonder this every year, and every year, do a google image search to maybe see what he looks like as an adult. This year there is at least one shot of the adult Ralphie! (and the child cast from here. cool!) This is the 20th anniversary of A Christmas Story.

One year I watched it 4 (probably more) times in a row and laughed at the right parts each time. This year, also as usual, I catch it somewhere in the middle, and watch from there, and watch the next showing of it too. (and probably will watch the next one as well...sad huh?)

Tradition. Is it Christmas without A Christmas Story? Sure, I guess so. But it's nice to have a little something thats the same every year. It would be nice to know who it is at whichever network that decides each year "yea, we'll just show this for 24 hours straight"...does everyone get the day off when they do that? (should hope so, can the station run itself? hmmm)

I guess if Hallmark can create tradtions for us, tv networks can too. Ho ho ho and a merry one to you and yours :)

Addition (2/26/05):
There's a little more info about "Ralphie" here. (pop-under ads abound...but depending on your browser, you may already be blocking them)