Small Packages--Inaugural Post!

If you've even glanced at my blog the last few weeks, you're probably sick of hearing about my Small Packages blogfest.  Well, good news: Today is post day! 

I want to sincerely thank everyone taking part and everyone that has helped promote the blogfest in one way or another. 

I'm glad to anounce that we actually went above and beyond my hopes for this first go 'round by having 13 participants!  I really encourage you to check out all of their posts. 

Don't forget, if you are a participant make sure you do the following:

1. Link back to this post so that everyone knows who's taking part.
2. Follow at least one new blogger.
3. Comment on at least three blogs.

Thanks again!

I'm sure that you're tired of my blabbing by now and want me to get on to the Halloween-y good fun.

For this month's post, I got a little nostalgic.  The Husband and I had been reminiscing about when TV actually had holiday themed shows.  You know, back before the three month holiday hiatus and we all got to cynical to have a straight-forward Valentine's day show.

So, for my post I wanted to write about my favorite Halloween special of all time.

Yes, I am that sappy.  Just like the fact that it's not Christmas until I see little Linus up on that stage, it's not Halloween until Charlie Brown gets his rock and Snoopy daydreams of the Flying Ace. 

I think one of the reasons I love the special so much is because it represents a missing part of my childhood.  I never got to go trick or treating, or visit a pumpkin patch, or have a dancing dog. 

My prime trick-or-treating years were spent in the middle of nowhere in North East Texas.  I did have a neighbors close by, but they were all old, and I don't think they believed in celebrating Halloween.  But other than the neighbors down the road, you'd have to drive ten minutes to get into town where there were actual neighborhoods.

This was all before the popularity of church "Fall Festivals," so I didn't have that as an outlet either.  (But I was one of only a handful of kids at my church anyway). So every year, I'd watch Charlie Brown get another rock but still keep trying. See wise beyond his years Linus struggle with faith and belief.  And witness the power of Snoopy's imagination.

I think my memories of being on the couch with a bag of candy all my own and the warmth of Charlie Brown isn't that bad a trade-off after all.

Leave Heidi Alone! (Or rewatching a childhood favorite)

No, not he ever pregnant Heidi of Project Runway. The sweet, curly haired dimpled Heidi of my Saturday mornings:

When I was about 6 or 7, I loved Shirley Temple.  One would come on TV, or I'd find one on tape, and I'd watch them back to back if I could.  I wanted ringlet curls so badly I could taste it some days, and I desperately wanted to learn to tap dance.

So today, with the storm bands of Alex making the day so dreary, I felt a little nostalgic, and started watching Heidi on Netflix.

If you're unfamiliar with the story, orphaned Heidi is brought to live with her Grandfather by her Aunt Dete.  The old man is reluctant to have her, but Shirley's Heidi's kind nature and dimples win him over. Dete returns and takes Heidi to Frankfurt to be the companion of an invalid girl, Clara.  Clara's governess immediately hates Heidi and wants to get rid of her.  Meanwhile, Grandfather is on his way to Frankfurt to find Heidi and bring her back home where she belongs. If you've ever seen another Shirley Temple movie, or orphan in distress movie from this time period, you can figure out how it'll end.

Today was the first time I've watched it as an adult and it is a COMPLETELY different movie than I remember!

Childhood Memories	Adult Realizations
The Grandfather is a kindly old man	The Grandfather is a bitter old man isolated based on his unforgiving nature
Heidi's Aunt Dete is a mean woman	Dete should be arrested and put in jail for child abandonment and kidnapping
Heidi is a happy girl	Heidi is so desperate to have someone love her that she puts on a false face of cheeriness sometimes
Clara is a poor sick girl	Clara is a spoiled rich brat that refers to Heidi as if she were a puppy
The governess is a mean old woman	Why won't these women stop kidnapping Heidi!?!
Yeah, Heidi and Clara are friends!	Stupid Clara and her passive aggressive friendship! Heidi should have cut all ties with her

I do have to say that I enjoyed it almost as much as I did as a kid. It's pure escapist, utterly unrealistic, but happily ever afters are nice sometimes.