Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas isn't serious

My family is full of jokes and silly antics, trust me on this one. My dad's side is full of practical jokers of all kinds and my moms side just has a silly sense of humor. For years, there have been strange gifts passed around between family members - towels my moms parents stole on their honeymoon, a creepy picture of a great aunt on my dads side, goofy photos of other people doing things that appeared to be inappropriate (please don't take that the wrong way, it wasn't THAT bad).

A few Christmases ago my grandparents had gone to Florida late and weren't coming back for the holiday so we spent Christmas day with my dad's brother, wife and 2 kids. After dinner we decided to go through the old 45 records and listen to them since the kids liked to dance around to "Mellow Yellow" and that "Beep Beep" song, and we found a treasure among the records. It was recorded by a local woman, which I'm assuming my grandma somehow acquired through bowling or one of her other activities. After looking it over, we gave it a listen that we would never forget. On side A was a song called "Herpe" and yes, they do mean THAT kind of Herpe....the lyrics when on to say, "he'll love you for one night, but you'll have him for life" and of course the adults were on the floor laughing hysterically. This instantly became the new family pass around gift!

The year prior to this however I received the pass around gift that would now be retired for Herpe to take its place. This "gift" was a picture, I don't have the photo anymore since my parents demanded that all evidence of this be destroyed.....but its basically a photo of a guy wearing a trench coat flashing a sculpture and the caption says "expose yourself to art" - I hope that makes sense without being able to see it. The picture I got however, was my dad in his skivvies, holding said framed art piece in which it appears he's not wearing clothes and making a crazy face. This was the only time I've ever received the family gag gift. Sure there have been other strange and goofy gifts I've been given....like the crazy hats my dad would get for me and my brother (this was last year, the year before they were the winter hats with ear flaps):
614 is our area code in Columbus, we were trying to be really street smart with our "gang signs"

And there is always seeing my dad dressed up in his Cousin Eddy from Christmas Vacation outfit
Or the year my parents got us a stuffed dog, even though we really wanted a REAL golden retriever.....

I guess what I'm trying to say is that my family doesn't really try to make Christmas this huge serious thing and to me that is what makes it fun! I look forward to the family pass around gifts and the goofy things my dad likes to do for us, little surprises in the stockings and all the goodies - even if I'm 24 I really hope that doesn't change!

I'm participating in the writers workshop over at Mama Kat's and I did prompt 4 about a funny gift given or received, so get on over there and do the same!

12 comments:

Miss. C said...

Are we related?! I wanted a waterbed when I was a kid and got a barbie bed stuffed with 2 waterwennies (those were waterfilled toys that were the size of hot dog bun that got slippery when wet - incase you don't know what they are).

Amanda said...

I made a water bed for my barbies with a freezer bag and some duct tape!

AdriansCrazyLife said...

How fun! Your family sounds like a blast. I wish my family did stuff like that, but I don't think they have that much imagination. I think the closest I got was when my son was 16 and he got a car for Christmas. One of those little toy ones from the Chevron station. I was laughing so hard I was crying!

Cajoh said...

Stopping by from Mamma Kat's…

I don't have a regular family gag gift like you do, but my wife and I gave our nephew some Thistle and Heather after we saw The Thistle and Heather Dance Troop on the Thanksgiving Day parade and laughed uncontrollably for ten minutes together.

KatBouska said...

You can run, but you can't hide...Merry Christmas:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/expose%20yourself%20to%20art/locojohnston/r135Expose-Yourself-to-Art-Posters.jpg

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

We never did the goofy gift thing in our family, but it sounds like fun!

Visiting from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Unknown said...

Oh man, your dad's Eddie costume. I've never seen it in person, but it is infamous. We still need to get together!

I did a Mama Kat prompt this week, too. My first one. When it said, "is your husband a gamer?" I almost jumped out of my chair and yelled, "YES!!" so I knew I had to try it. :) Call me! Or I'll try to call you!

Amanda said...

Mama Kat!!! AHHHH that is the painting!!!

Caitlyn - I will give you a call on my way home from work tonight! I'm glad you participated, its fun and a good way to get new readers at your blog!

Rebecca Jo said...

Its all about fun & family!!! I love the Cousin Eddy outfit... perfect!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I am literally dying over your Dad dressed up as Eddy. So freaking hysterical!

Queen of Feisty said...

Thanks for stopping by! Those gifts are great! My mom and her friend do a "gaudy gift" each year. This year though the friend went with crappy and cheap. Not cute.

I must say I have NEVER heard them called Waterwennies before! LOVE that name! Is that what they were called?

Queen of Feisty

Miss. C said...

I am in Northeastern Ohio! Dealing with cold and snow right now!! Freezer bag and duct tape would have been a great idea too! lol!