Planes, Trains and Holiday Traditions

For as many years as I can remember, it has been a "family tradition" to, on the night before Thanksgiving, watch my favorite holiday movie; a film that captures the true spirit of the holiday: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, starring John Candy and Steve Martin.

Now before you get the warm fuzzies as you picture our Norman Rockwell family gathered around the warm electric glow of the screen, laughing together at the holiday high jinks of Del and Neal, let me paint a clear picture of how the evening actually goes.

There is always discussion about what we should do as a family on this, the night before Thanksgiving. Dani has some cooking to do. The kids want to play some games with cousins and other family gathered for the holiday. I just want to crack a bottle of gin and enjoy a cocktail while enjoying the family tradition of this John Hughes holiday classic. There is an attempt to convince me that, this year, I will not watch alone. That everyone is excited about watching with me; but they are liars.

This is what ends up happening. I am in the family room by myself, giggling while I sip on a cocktail; laughing a little louder than I should in order to get everyone's attention hoping they will come join me.

They never do.

Danielle will tell you she watched it with me last year. But she also says I fell asleep before Del and Neal made it to southern Illinois. So, by her own admission, there is no concrete proof that anyone has watched this movie with me... ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNWx7_tZRcI

Tonight, she has enlisted her sister and my brother in law. All of them have conveniently forgotten their Amazon Prime account passwords. Villains. To think that tomorrow I will be forced to share the most solemn meal of the year with these people.

Just now, she has quarantined me to watch my favorite holiday movie on the small screen of her Mac-book. Not the large screen on my Mac-book Pro, mind you. But the Mac-Book Air's tiny little screen. She doesn't get it.

My mother-in-law has just excused herself, "Heading up to bed. See you in the morning," she says. This, before Neal even loses a foot race with Kevin Bacon for an NYC cab.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is my tradition and my tradition alone.

I love how Hughes can turn on a dime; making you laugh then, a second later, cry. We all identify with Neal's stuggle. But we all know someone who is just like Dell... many of us will spend a part of the day tomorrow with "Dell". But here is Hughes' genius. Before the movie is over, you will wish you were more like Del and want to change the parts of you that are like Neal.

The beauty of this movie is that, in the end, everyone shares Thanksgiving dinner together. It is chance that brings Del and Neal together. But in the end, they share Thanksgiving dinner together. Despite their differences, they are family.

Who will you share dinner with tomorrow? Why? Even if genetics is the primary factor determining what table you sit at tomorrow, look for something more. Look for the beauty in Del's heart. Love the persistence in Neal's personality. Know that your brother-in-law knows his Amazon password, but can't share it with you because your wife's sister will kill him if he does.

Look for the good and be thankful for these wonderful people.