Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. This week’s question is: “With the slew of holidays coming up at the end of the year, do you have a watch list of shows/movies you like to watch to celebrate? What are they?
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I don’t watch television anymore, but there’s one holiday movie I try to see each year, A Christmas Story. It’s based on Gene Shepherd’s memoir about how he wanted a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas when he was a little boy. Although I’ve never wanted such a thing, this film brings back memories for me.
On the other hand, in my latest book, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, the family has some holiday traditions, one of which is to watch a particular movie the night after Thanksgiving, as you’ll note from the excerpt below. This part of the story is told from the point of view of Natalie, who is sixteen years old. The scene starts as the family is finishing supper. Natalie’s ten-year-old sister Sarah is sick in bed.
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Finally, Grandpa asked, “Are we ready to watch Miracle on 34th Street?”
This was another of our Thanksgiving traditions. It was my sister’s favorite Christmas movie.
“Maybe Sarah will want to watch it with us,” I said, jumping up from the table. “I’ll go see.”
“I doubt it,” said Grandma.
“Natalie, I’ll check on Sarah,” said Mom, getting up from the table. “Why don’t you help your grandma with the dishes?”
“That’s a great idea,” said Grandma.
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So, does Sarah feel well enough to watch the movie with the rest of the family? You’ll just have to read the book and find out.
How about you? Do you have a favorite television program or movie you like to watch during the holiday season? You can answer this question in the comment field or click here to participate in this week’s hop and read what other bloggers have to say.
Note: Starting next week, I’ll be moving this feature to Mondays, since most other bloggers seem to be posting their responses on those days.
New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
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My Corner 
I had mumps over Christmas one year (many years ago) I hated not being able to everything that we normally did over the holiday.
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Yeah, it’s difficult doing everything used to do for the holidays when you have to worry about Covid. Last year I did not go to Florida to spend Christmas with my brother and his family, and I won’t be doing that this year, either. I’m too worried about inadvertently picking up the disease and passing it on to others in airports and crowded airplanes. But I’d rather be home alone than make people sick.
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