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Category Archives: Holiday
Looking for a new Christmas flick? Try this surprisingly sentimental Netflix romcom
It’s too early to consider Hernán Jiménez’s 2021 romcom “Love Hard” a Christmas classic, but it’s certainly one I would recommend this holiday season. Written by Danny Mackey and Rebecca Ewing, this silly, delightful film has stayed with me, and … Continue reading
Christmas Eve at the South Side Tavern
Torrin finished his second Evan Williams and Coke and signaled Seth for another as he and a few other evening bar dwellers took in Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” from the jukebox. “This song makes me think of shopping,” Seth said, … Continue reading
Posted in Holiday, Love
Tagged Christmas, Glendive, Montana, Paul McCartney, Squeakquel, Stones
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Be pleasant this holiday season
“Years ago my mother used to say, “In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.” – Elwood P. Dowd, “Harvey” Sixty-nine years after its release, there’s still … Continue reading
Posted in Holiday, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas, harvey, Holiday, Jimmy Stewart, pleasant, Vonnegut
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Why “Christmas Vacation” is a Christmas classic
When it comes to holiday movies, what constitutes a “Christmas classic?” I don’t think there is a right or a wrong answer. Each family has their own favorite holiday movies. Growing up, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was a big one … Continue reading
Keeping the New Year tradition alive, sort of
Read more. Exercise more. Get a girlfriend. Every year, Trevor and I would put our New Year’s resolutions under the shed behind his house on Madden Place. We were crazy then. Before we put the resolutions under the shed, we’d … Continue reading
Posted in Holiday, Inspirational
Tagged inspiration, New Year's Resolutions, nostalgia, self-improvement
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It Truly Is A Wonderful Life: Lessons learned from a Christmas classic
On Christmas Eve this year, instead of going to church, I went to a different kind of service. My fiancée, her older sister, their mother and I went to the Art House Cinema and Pub in Billings to see Frank … Continue reading
Posted in Holiday, Inspirational
Tagged Christmas spirit, Frank Capra, hope, It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart, Joy
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What this year looks like is up to us
What the next four years look like is anybody’s guess, but what this year looks is up to us. That’s the beauty of new year’s resolutions. And, this year, instead of focusing on how much to work out or personal ambition, I’m going to focus on family. I’m going to focus on what truly makes me grateful day in and day out. I want to enjoy my time with my wife and step-son, do fun things together and go places we haven’t been. I want to keep in better touch with my sister, brother-in-law and three nephews in North Carolina. Grateful to still have my father around, I want to spend as much time as possible with him and with my mother. It’s a blessing to have them in Montana, and I don’t want to take that for granted. Continue reading
Elfin’ ain’t easy: A day in the life of a North Pole Adventure volunteer
“Do I look ridiculous?” I asked Jennifer when I found her.
“Charlie, you’re dressed as an elf. Of course you do.”
Solomon, my fiancée’s son, was also an elf, wearing a red and white Santa T-shirt and green pajama pants. He was happy to participate, but was mainly in it for the money.
Yes, we got paid to be elves, thanks to the Lewistown Chamber of Commerce, who is still looking for volunteers. Sometimes they even recruit elves, which was the case for us.
“Hey, Charlie, you want to be an elf?” Liz at the Chamber asked when I was in the office this fall.
“Why not?” I said. “Can I bring Solomon?”
Sometimes you choose to be an elf; sometimes being an elf chooses you. Continue reading
Posted in Holiday
Tagged Christmas, Elf, Montana, North Pole Adventure Train, Polar Express
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A Thanksgiving toast
Today, when I think about Thanksgiving, I give thanks. I give thanks for my health, my family, my relationships and I give thanks to live in such a beautiful place as Montana. I am also tremendously thankful to live in the United States of America. Continue reading
Charlie's Trail 