Holiday flying--a report from the Field

By: Carole Adams - Dallas-based Flight Attendant

 In the last 13 days, I've worked ten!  That's a lot of flying.  Why?  I wanted to make up for having worked only four days in December BEFORE the 23rd (vacation).  We have had full, busy flights.  I've demonstrated the safety features of the aircraft over and over and served 2,000 plus drinks. That's the nuts and bolts of our work.  Let me share some moments of serendipity that make me smile as I remember them and keep me loving my job.

Children five- to 11-years-old can fly unaccompanied.  Understandably, during the holidays we have a lot of Unaccompanied Minors.  One flight had 15!  With one group, I introduced myself and began filling out their paperwork.  While doing this I asked their names and then said: "And what is my name?"  I had been through the routine five times and when the sixth child had my attention, I didn't ask if he remembered my name.  As I put his papers in his pouch, he looked at me and said: "Aren't you going to give me the test?!"  This same flight I remembered I needed to add something to the first child's paperwork.  I asked him to give it to me and told him I forgot to write something.  With a lisp he asked, "Is THIS your first time?"  Spending time with these children is a joy no matter how many times I've done it.

 Another large group are our Armed Forces.  I can't see these young faces without feeling almost a maternal pride.  As we entered the airport early for our first flight, I noticed a young woman in fatigues.  She was hugging her husband, and they were surrounded by two young children and a baby in a carrier!  I wanted to go in her place! One young man, again in fatigues, boarded last with tears in his eyes.  I said, "Do you need one more good-bye kiss?" and he leaned over and kissed me!  The Ops Agent said the soldier was with his wife and children in the gate area.  I'd love to be on their flights bringing them back home.

 Babies were everywhere!   I've never seen an ugly baby.  There's no better reason to fly than to spend time with grandparents and extended family!  One popular Christmas gift is a trip to Disney World!  It's a lot of fun seeing children's faces as they tell me where they are going! One family had twelve traveling together - grandpa was footing the bill.  A trip to remember.

Some of our flights were over two hours--one was over four hours.  This gives our passengers a chance to get well acquainted.  One particularly friendly group was exchanging addresses and phone numbers.  They agreed it was the best flight they have every been on.  That's the feeling we want our passengers to have.   

I wonder how many wheel chairs are in an airport?  Each flight had a long line of wheelchair passengers.  We had extra Ops Agents and Pilots helping the Sky Caps. Flying is a big deal to a lot of these passengers.  I must tell you about Homer.  He boarded first and sat on the first row by the window.  He is in his eighties--a snappy dresser!  We had time to talk while I was sitting on the jumpseat, plus it was a long flight. He asked me if I would come and live with him.  He paid $60,000 for his house in California, and it was now worth $240,000.00!  Before we landed, I saw him take a business card from the male passenger sitting beside him.  I thought, "How nice; he has made a friend."  Well, he handed me the card as he left.  He had written his name and phone number on the back of the other man's card and added "Call me some time."  I won't forget him and the memory will make me smile.  I hope he will do the same!

Holiday flying is hard work, but the kind that gives you a warm feeling afterward. 

 

   

View the 2 comments on “Holiday flying--a report from the Field” and leave your own comment.

Tags: elders service men and women unaccompanied minors

Holiday flying--a report from the Field was written on Jan 06,2009 at 09:53am and posted in the categories Working at Southwest

Third time's a charm...

By: Lindsey Reynolds - Emerging Media Specialist

Forget Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, or whoever else Barbara Walters selected as "The Ten Most Fascinating People of 2008." My personal pick would have to be Ms. Mary Creason, a Senior Customer Relations Telephone Rep here at SWA Headquarters in Dallas.
 
Mary is one of those people in the midst of what people are calling their "second career." It's a unique life event reserved for women who have gotten married, raised children, and re-entered the workforce. As for Empty Nesters Syndrome? Fuhgeddaboutit! And it turns out she's in good company. A study done by MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures, a think tank on baby boomers and their work habits, indicated that many people wish to use their "encore career" not just for income purposes, but to make a positive difference in the world. She's for sure made a positive difference here at Southwest. As for Mary's first career, well, it was a bit of a whirlwind...
 
Mary began working for Braniff Airlines in 1959 at the tender age of 19--against her father's wishes, who warned her Flight Attendants were just "glorified waitresses." She left her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, to fly to Dallas--it was her first time on an airplane, but it certainly wouldn't be her last. Braniff had moved into the newly completed Dallas Love Field Terminal just two years prior--in October 1957.
 
The competition to be a Braniff Hostess (other airlines still used the term Stewardess) was fierce. Women were subject to the strictest of standards: one had to be 18-32, unmarried, and weigh between 110-132 pounds. All this while looking elegant, keeping your hat pinned, and serving drinks to 30-odd passengers--completely alone. Yes, it was one hostess per plane back then, if you can imagine that. Although I'm guilty of glamorizing the golden days of aviation, it was hard work being dressed to the nines and working in an unpressurized cabin with no air conditioning. Until WWII, all attendants had to be registered nurses as well. Hostesses also had to purchase their first uniform, which often cost more than a month's salary.
 
The chances of becoming a Braniff Hostess were one out of 400 back then--and Mary was one of them. When she describes receiving her letter of acceptance in the mail, a wave of emotion washes over her, and her voice falters as she struggles to convey her excitement on that momentous day.
 
Mary worked on reserve out of Kansas City, and had to ask permission from the Flight Handler before even leaving the house to mail a letter. One never knew when they could be called in for a flight. There were frequent layovers in Omaha that could last from 24 to 36 hours. But one such flight to Omaha carried a very special passenger: the one and only Ms. Joan Crawford, whose husband at the time (the CEO of Pepsi-Cola) had just passed. Ms. Crawford was flying to Omaha to dedicate a Pepsi plant in her late husband's honor. Mary remembers her wearing "a green dress, ankle-strap shoes, red hair--and just covered with freckles. She brought an entourage of seven people with her, and a cooler full of drinks, since we didn't offer them on board yet."
 
Mary was a Hostess from 1959 to 1961 before getting married and moving to Reservations. She stayed at Braniff on and off until the airline collapsed in 1982--taking two-thirds of her retirement. Through acquaintances, Mary was offered a job at Southwest in 1996. Even though it was a pay cut, she made the move.
 
"Like Braniff, Southwest is very family-oriented. I've made a lot of lifelong friends." Now on her "third career," Mary has a sassiness and bravado that puts even me to shame. Two of her Braniff uniforms are now hanging in the halls at Southwest--a summer blue suit (once worn with blue-and-white spectators!), and a gray wool for winter. And as much as I'd love to try one on, there is no way I could squeeze into a 1950's size 8--comparable to a size 2 of today.
 
Mary is a well-known figure throughout the Southwest halls, but when you dress as "The Pantless Pilot" on Halloween, how could you not be? If you're really lucky, you just might hear Mary on the end of the line if you call Southwest Customer Relations. As a Senior Telephone Rep, she can spend up to eight hours talking each day to our Customers about concerns or complaints (luckily, we have pretty few!) Our interviewer for the video, Mr. Kim Seale, is of the privileged few who gets to work with Mary every day in Customer Relations/Rapid Rewards. We have him to thank for bringing her amazing life story to our attention.

And if you're ever in Dallas, do visit the Dallas Historical Society. The Clipped B's is a organization of former Braniff Hostesses, and they've donated many of their elegant uniforms to the museum. The name 'Clipped B's' comes from the two Braniff pins Hostesses were given at the start of their career. When you left the airline, you had to give one pin back--but the other "B" was yours to keep.

We're so lucky to have Mary and her aviation history as part of the Southwest Family, and we hope she'll stay on for a "fourth career!"

View the 3 comments on “Third time's a charm...” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Braniff Airlines Flight Attendants Kim Seale Lindsey Reynolds Mary Creason

Third time's a charm... was written on Jan 05,2009 at 07:05am and posted in the categories Working at Southwest

No Mom, I Said I Want Toast!

By: Linda Rutherford - Vice President Communications & Strategic Outreach

Happy New Year.  This post from Linda Rutherford  will be our last new post until January 5.  However, we will still be moderating and posting your comments, so keep 'em coming.

 

 

When my son was a toddler, we began a fun (well, we think it is) family tradition for New Year's Eve. We aren't big "let's go out and dance the night away" people, so we always opted for the low-key family gatherings. One New Year's Eve, when Matt was a little more than two, we introduced him to the whole New Year's concept. You see, son, this is when the year changes number, you make a New Year's wish, you kiss at midnight, and you "toast" someone with a drink and say "cheers!"
 
I went whole hog. I bought New Year's hats, noisemakers, horns, plastic champagne glasses, and sparkling grape juice. We paraded around the kitchen, blowing our horns, and saying "Happy New Year" over and over. Then, I poured the sparkling grape juice into the glasses and we said, "now, let's have a toast to the New Year!" We looked expectantly at Matt, all smiles like we were the coolest parents ever to be introducing this new tradition to him. He looked befuddled. "Where's the toast?" he said softly. I told him the "clink" of the glasses WAS the toast. "No, I want toast" he said a little louder. "But..." I said trying to give a two-year-old a logical explanation of my actions. "NO, MOM, I SAID I WANT TOAST!!!!!" Then, it hit us. He wanted the slice of bread that magically appears from the toaster, ready to eat. He wanted ACTUAL toast. So, we toasted the boy some white bread and fed it to him. He was happy.
 
Fast forward. We have done our parade every year since. His sister, now 9, has joined in the fun. And, yes, every year, we end the festivities with what all normal people do on New Year's Eve, with a piece of toast (and not too much butter, Mommy).
 
Happy New Year to you all. I hope you will share any New Year's traditions that you have here.
 

View the 7 comments on “No Mom, I Said I Want Toast!” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Linda Rutherford New Year's Southwest Airlines

No Mom, I Said I Want Toast! was written on Dec 26,2008 at 07:19am and posted in the categories Southwest Culture and Working at Southwest

Holiday Greetings from the Blog Team

By: Brian Lusk - Manager of Online Relationships & Special Projects

We asked our Bloggers to send you some of their Holiday thoughts, and what better time to do that than Christmas Eve.  Merry Christmas from all of us at Nuts About Southwest.

Having the Freedom to Fly gives my husband and me the Freedom to make many special memories.  We have had the opportunity to go so many wonderful places throughout my tenure at Southwest.  We have travelled from coast to coast in the United States and as far away as The Czech Republic and Japan.  At each destination, we are sure to purchase an ornament that captures a memory from the trip.  Now keep in mind, we aren’t looking for the prettiest ornament or the most popular, but the ornament that will make us remember the highlights of our vacation.  So, we have everything from a cowbell from Switzerland to a miniature Cruise Ship from our honeymoon.  Our tradition continues with decorating the tree.  Each year, as we sip on hot chocolate and listen to Holiday music, we adorn our Christmas tree with one ornament at time remembering the fun, and often hilarious, memories from that particular trip.  Our memories are a gift that we continue to give each year during the Holidays,

Beverly Behrens

 To all Mommys and Daddys: How do you make your child's first Christmas special?! James is only four months old, so he's not old enough to understand or remember the holiday this year.

My hubby suggested giving him a super sized bottle of milk in his stocking! Mommy and Daddy hope that Santa brings some extra SLEEP.  We were too tired to deal with decorating a tree and bought a small Charlie Brown tree that's sitting on our kitchen table. We attempted to see Santa three times; each time we arrived at the mall, Santa was on a break! The third time was the charm, and we got the priceless dear-in-the- headlights picture to show James' first girlfriend.

Despite the fact that we're clueless parents, we're very blessed to have our son to celebrate this special time of year together. Oh, by the way, I can't stand Will Ferrell, but I have to admit, Elf is a cute movie!

Happy HoHoHo to you and yours!

 

Kim Delevett and son James

 

My friend Juls was dressed in a Santa outfit while working Christmas Day.  She was standing outside the aircraft door when a small boy came around the corner with his parents.  A look of delight crossed the child's face as he ran and threw his arms around Juls' legs.  "Oh Santa, thank you so much for all my toys!"  There's something special about "being" Santa! 

While working Christmas Day, I asked a little boy if Santa had come to see him.  He matter-of-factly said, "No."  What do you say to that?  His parents may simply not celebrate Christmas, but I give toys to Toys for Tots, donate to Salvation Army, and chose an angel from the Angel Tree.

Carole Adams

View the 3 comments on “Holiday Greetings from the Blog Team” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Beverly Behrens Brian Lusk Carole Adams Christmas holidays Kim Delevett Southwest Airlines

Holiday Greetings from the Blog Team was written on Dec 24,2008 at 03:24pm and posted in the categories Southwest Culture and Working at Southwest

The Original Wrapper

By: Steve Heaser - Sr. Multimedia Specialist

While it is a security guideline every day of the year, it's a special challenge this time of year. I'm speaking of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guideline that asks air travelers NOT to wrap presents because sometimes they have to unwrap them to inspect them. If the G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu Grip you wrapped beautifully looks suspicious, you will be asked to unwrap the gift so that a visual inspection can be made.

Where does that leave you? Well, you could take extra care unwrapping like your grandmother and hope the tape resticks. If, however, you were in Denver International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, or Dallas Love Field (and were flying Southwest Airlines) this week you would be in luck.

Once again this year Southwest Airlines teamed up with The Container Store to help people out of their tight spots. Even if the TSA didn’t make you open your wrapped gift, the nice ladies from The Container Store and several properly-trained Southwest Employees were helping Customers with their last-minute-gift-wrapping needs.

On this episode of Red Belly Radio, I interview a couple of the aforementioned elves and pick up a tip or two about how to make your gifts look professionally wrapped. Here is a hint—crease your paper and yes, you can actually use too much tape.

View the 5 comments on “ The Original Wrapper” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Container Store Wrapping

The Original Wrapper was written on Dec 23,2008 at 05:18pm and posted in the categories Airports and Nutty stuff

A Verrry Merrry Christmas Parade

By: Ana Schwager - Nashville Marketing Manager

I was very excited when I received my invitation from our friends over at the Grand Ole Opry to participate in the Verrry Merrry Christmas Parade (VMCP).  Now, before you get too excited, let me explain that this is no ordinary parade!   One snowy day back in 2005, someone in the Opry Marketing Department (name won't be divulged) was in the storage room trying to find something, and as he was moving the vaccum cleaner, he began singing "Rockin' Around the Vaccuum Sweep."  Just about the time he finished the song, Dan (oops....name divulged) looked up to find a coworker looking at him asking:  "What are you doing?"  Dan replied, "Getting ready for the office parade in which each of us will utilize something in the storage closet."   And so the parade was born!   The parade organizers will tell you that although they battle inclement weather (I don't know how inclement the weather can be INSIDE), the attendance continues to increase every year.  Twelve folks lined the conference room table that first year, and on this, the third year, the conference room table was actually moved to accomodate more seating, SIXTEEN, for the growing audience.
 
Now that I've given you the history of the VMCP, let me tell you about our "float".   Since we really didn't know what to expect, we decided to incorporate, what else for a Christmas parade, a little Valentine's Day theme!   Using our "LUV'n You Is What We Do" Southwest banner (yes, I'm sure you've all seen it hanging in our airports on LUV day!), we took the liberty and added an additional message to the bottom of the banner....."Only 60 more days until V-Day"!   You all know how we can't even get through one holiday before the stores are celebrating the next one, right?   That was our crazy thought behind our "float".  AND...yes, it was from our storage room, along with our inflatable airplane hats that we wore!
 
We were excited to find out we were second in the parade route (Opry Marketing office) lineup, only behind the fire engine.  Accompanied by the VMCP band, we were ready for our big entrance.   The parade announcer, Jackie, began reading our intro..."We are happy to report the Verrry Merrry Christmas Parade now has a corporate sponsor.   Coming down the parade route now, please welcome our friends from Southwest Airlines accompanied by the VMCP marching band!  Remember, nothing says "Blue Christmas" like getting charged extra fees out the ying-yang for those holiday bags on your flight home to Pittsburgh!  Fly Southwest. No Hidden Fees. Just Christmas cheer!"  Needless to say, especially after Jackie read the "No Hidden Fees" line, cheers from the audience abrupted and we knew our float was a hit!   Since you weren't able to enjoy it in person, I can't go without listing the other parade entrants:  Opry Holiday Twirlers, Miss Yule Log 1957, Tammy Why-Not, Snarf the Misfit Elf and his Wagon of Misfit Opry Toys (not sure how an extra Southwest inflatable plane got in that wagon?), Rockin' Around the Christmas Sweep, special celebrity guest Gretchen Wilson, Mrs. Jeffrey Hyde, the Christmas Bride, Russian dancer Nikolia Corchevski, Funshine Bear, Barney Gift Box, Opry Marketing and Sales Ribbon Dancers and Living Christmas Tree, Mary Catherine Gallagher, the Rockettes, and last, but certainly not least, straight from the North Pole, Clower Clause!

 
Yes, it was definitley an afternoon to remember.   I've already started scouting my storage closet for next year, if I'm invited back.  I'm pretty sure we will be.  We were just as good (or should I say bad) as everyone else in the Verry Merry Christmas Parade.   I would highly recommend this FUN, and certainly not expensive, holiday activity for your office.  Believe me, many laughs will roar and the holiday spirit will be in full swing!   Wishing you all a happy Holiday Season and best in 2009!

View the 2 comments on “A Verrry Merrry Christmas Parade” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Ana Schwager Christmas Southwest Airlines

A Verrry Merrry Christmas Parade was written on Dec 23,2008 at 08:42am and posted in the categories Airports

A Very Special Christmas Eve!

By: Ashley Butler - Marketing Representative

Miss Dorothy Jean Siegrest (she prefers to go by "Jean being from Kansas") and Mr. Charles Leroy Novak wed on December 24, 1948 in Haddam, Kansas in a tiny courthouse during the middle of an intense midwestern snowstorm. It wasn’t a very ceremonial affair like people have today. It was just a simple, small ceremony with a judge and a few friends as witnesses. She wore a fancy corsage and her nicest dress to signify the occasion. Granny says that the fact that it was Christmas Eve made it a magical evening affair.

From that night on, my Granny became known to my Pops as “my little woman”. He says her nickname with a fondness that only exists between a woman and man who have been married for 60 years. Granny loves to talk about that night, and instead of reading the Christmas Story every Christmas Eve, we get the pleasure of hearing Granny speak about her marriage ceremony as she serves her famous pecan pie. Her face lights up and her mind drifts back to the past as she shares their beautiful love story.

So this Christmas Eve will certainly be a momentous occasion. Not only will my family exchange Christmas presents under the glow of the Christmas tree but we will more importantly get to celebrate a 60-year marriage filled with the kind of love that all of us have tried to emulate in our own relationships. Happy Anniversary Granny and Pops and thank you for showing us how to simply love.

View the 1 comments on “A Very Special Christmas Eve!” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Ashley Butler Christmas Southwest Airlines

A Very Special Christmas Eve! was written on Dec 23,2008 at 08:11am and posted in the categories Southwest Culture

All I want for Christmas is a Bundt Pan

By: Lindsey Reynolds - Emerging Media Specialist

For me, the Holiday Season has always been about food. I mean...family. Okay, family and food. I have been blessed with a mother and father who both cook amazing gourmet meals on a regular basis. You might say I've become a little spoiled over the years, having grown up watching the Food Network instead of listening to a bedtime story. I'd often go to a friend's house for dinner and have to hide my dismay at the tuna casserole and creamed peas presented to me. 

"You mean, you didn't brine your turkey for twenty-four hours in a crushed rosemary salt bath? That salmon isn't Wild Alaskan and slow-roasted on a cedar plank? You're drinking...red table wine?! Oh, the horror. Okay, so I'm a bit of a food snob. But I've tried to cultivate this foodie pride into something productive: actually learning to cook.

This past Thanksgiving was my first attempt at bringing a dish to our already heaving table of delicious treats. My pancetta-braised brussels sprouts and orange zest-infused sweet potatoes went over very well with the nuclear family and cautiously tried by others. I now feel confident enough to be in charge of dessert this Christmas dinner, which is no laughing matter. My parents have been planning the menu for weeks, and my brother is even brewing a special batch of gingerbread beer up in Alaska to bring down.

This dessert has some mighty big shoes to fill. Will I stick to a family favorite: vanilla bean crème brulée? (We do love torching the sugar on top together.) Maybe I'll Paula Deen it up with Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce. (Yes, that's Krispy Kreme doughnuts.) Or perhaps I'll stray off the beaten path with a Spiced Honey Semifreddo with Dried Fruit and Almonds. Whatever I end up making, it'll always have that one special ingredient: lots and lots of butter. I mean...love. Okay, butter and love.
 

View the 3 comments on “All I want for Christmas is a Bundt Pan” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Christmas Family Food Lindsey Reynolds

All I want for Christmas is a Bundt Pan was written on Dec 22,2008 at 03:54pm and posted in the categories Uncategorized

Gifts on a budget

By: Carole Adams - Dallas-based Flight Attendant

Looking at the calendar, I realize I'd better stop merely thinking about gifts and start shopping!  Don't we all want to give the "perfect gift"?  We often equate this with spending a large sum of money.  "Budget" is not just a rental car agency!  I'll let you know what I'm thinking in hopes you will throw in some suggestions.

Computerized calendars (family pictures for each month) have been around a long time.  I noticed a friend's calendar had a picture of that person on their birthday date.   An added touch.  I love my picture mouse pad with my grandson smiling up at me!  We have so many pictures I prefer a different form than framed.  For someone short on time, and who isn't, what about prepared dinners like you find in the gourmet super markets and Costco--also good for elders.  Put them in a basket and add a bow, and you're ready to go!  Elders also appreciate a roll of stamps in a holder.

  

If you are giving a restaurant gift card to parents or grandparents, have you thought of the greatest gift of all?  Add your company.  Pick them up and eat with them.  One of the most creative gifts I've ever received is five flats of pansies.  I was late planting (real late), and my brother-in-law bought and planted them.  What a surprise!  The best gift my children could give me is to come over on a Saturday and help with the yard, garage, or repair something.  No monetary cost.  The gift of time is priceless!  Not enough money to buy jewelry?  Buy a jewelry roll for storage or travel.  Check Half-Price Books.  Clothes pricey?  What about a custom made T-shirt?  

 

 

Calling for all good ideas! 

View the 3 comments on “Gifts on a budget” and leave your own comment.

Tags: budget Carole Adams Christmas gifts shopping Southwest Airlines

Gifts on a budget was written on Dec 19,2008 at 06:14am and posted in the categories Uncategorized

More Christmas Cinema

By: Brian Lusk - Manager of Online Relationships & Special Projects

Jim Herring (aka Jimmy da Fish) opened the door for a discussion of Christmas movies in his earlier post, so I am walking through that door to throw in my two-cents.  First, though, are you wondering where all the good Christmas moves are on television this year?  I have hundreds of satellite channels of nothing, but I haven’t found all my favorites yet.

So, what are those favorites?  Well, this is my list, your mileage may vary, but I will try to justify my thoughts.  Let’s start with a Thanksgiving movie that helps set up the Christmas season.  Planes, Trains, and Automobiles has a special meaning to airline employees who try to travel standby during the holidays.  You have to expect disruptions and delay, while trying to remain flexible.  However, I have yet to hear of anyone of whom I know who has driven a torched K-car down Illinois Interstates.  The officer asks John Candy if he thinks the car is safe to drive, and I eagerly await the response.  Wait for it…”Yes, Officer, Yes, I do!”

This sweet and funny movie leads us up to the big enchilada, the mega-holiday, the one that keeps kids of all ages awake for days in anticipation of finding a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree.  My favorite “serious” Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life.  Filmed immediately after World War II, Frank Capra and his outstanding cast really define the Christmas Spirit.  What could easily come off as corny and overblown is sincere and touching in Capra’s hand, and the ending probably fits the desire of returning vets to put the evil out of their lives and to get on with living.  I think the move frustrates a modern audience seeking “closure.”  For that, you have to view the “sequel” that Saturday Night Live did of George Bailey, his friends, and his brother Harry going over to “take care” of Old Man Potter.

Scrooged with Bill Murray is possibly the best movie version of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.  It replaces the hard, emotionless accountant, Ebenezer Scrooge, with a cold heartless television network executive, Frank Cross, played by Murray.  Carol Kane, as the Ghost of Christmas Present always leaves me laughing (“Sometimes you have to *slap* them in the face just to get their attention!”), and besides Kane and Murray, the cast includes Robert Goulet (as himself), Robert Mitchum, Jamie Farr, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Alfre Woodard, and Michael j. Pollard, just to name a few.

If the lesson of Scrooged is to appreciate the blessings around us, the morals of the next movie is don’t count your eggs before they hatch and don’t dump the toilets of your RV directly into a storm drain.  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation reunites the Griswolds with Cousin Eddie.  This is one movie that gets funnier every year, whether it’s going overboard on the house decorations, driving the snooty neighbors crazy, or Cousin Eddie dumping the RV toilet down the storm drain while wearing pajamas, a robe, smoking a cigar, and drinking a beer.

The Home Alone movies are classics, and the second one, which is set in New York has some great Big Apple winter scenes.  In spite of Kevin’s antics, I always feel a little melancholy after watching either of these two movies, and just this morning, I read that Macaulay Culkins’ sister was killed in a tragic car wreck.  Life just isn’t fair sometimes.

In spite of all of these great movies, my absolute favorite is A Christmas Story.  Set in northern Indiana during 1940, its message is spot on.  Jean Shepherd, the screenwriter has a gift for dialogue, and he includes all those details of our own childhood that we normally would forget.  Ralphie and I shared similar circumstances and, I remember my own fear of Santa.  Unfortunately, at about the same age, I shouted the most inappropriate comment at the worst time on a full playground, and my sweet dear mother had a reaction equal to Ralphie’s mom.  Unlike Ralphie, I never got one of the gifts I wanted the most, in my case a toy fire truck.  And while I never stuck my tongue to a poll, I did have my own Scut Farkus affair.  I would venture that as many people can cite dialogue from this movie as they can from Airplane.  "it'll put your eye out, kid!" Rest assured, I will watch it at least once during TNT’s marathon on Christmas Eve.

View the 5 comments on “More Christmas Cinema” and leave your own comment.

Tags: Brian Lusk Christmas Southwest Airlines

More Christmas Cinema was written on Dec 19,2008 at 05:54am and posted in the categories Nutty stuff and Southwest Culture