Twenty five years ago tonight was, for much of the US, the coldest night of the 20th century. Single digits and howling winds, even in the south, made for a night of chill factors not seen before or since. I remember seeing a picture in the newspaper a couple of days later of a fire up north where the water from the fire trucks froze on the side of the building as it was aflame. Real cold.
That night is especially memorable for me since it was my last Christmas before getting married the following February. We spent Christmas at my paternal grandmother’s house with my aunts, uncles and cousins who were all living in Clanton, Alabama.
At the time, my uncle (who owned and sold any number of businesses in the area) was running a small twin theater in the corner of what is now known as a strip mall. I think it was called the “Clanton Twin Cinemas.” The movie that has since been called, “The It’s a Wonderful Life of an alternate universe,” A Christmas Story, had just been released. My uncle decided to treat his kids and all the cousins (including me) to a free viewing on Christmas eve. Unfortunately, the heat was not working in the theater on the coldest day in any of our lives.
So there we were, bundled up as if we were still outside watching at a drive in, laughing our guts out. When Ralphie finally shot himself in the eye, my cousin’s then boyfriend laughed so hard I thought he’d freeze his tonsils. It was a great night and I’ve loved the movie ever since.
Any crazy Christmas memories out there? Have a great Christmas, one and all.
