'You'll shoot your eye out!'

We’re marking another holiday tradition tonight—watching the modern classic “A Christmas Story.” It’s on TCM right now.

Yeah, I know, it will be on for 24 hours on Christmas Day and I’ll probably wind up watching bits and pieces of it again. But I just can’t help it. If it’s on, I have to watch!

I first saw this movie in the theater in 1983 at Dan Markiewicz’s birthday party and have loved it ever since. But it’s funny how I see the movie in a new light now. Kris and I are watching it and find ourselves identifying much more with the parents now.

By the way, I read the book version of “A Christmas Story” last year. My sister had given it to me for my birthday. If you love the movie, then I highly recommend you pick up the book. It was originally titled “In God We Turst: All Others Pay Cash.” It’s a collection of short stories by Jean Sheperd that collectively make up the storylines in the movie.