I grew up with the Peanuts holiday specials, The Wizard of Oz at Thanksgiving, and, as Christmas approached, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (narrated by Boris Karloff, no less!) and the Rankin Bass animated puppet version of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Which just happens to be on Channel 2 at this very minute! It first aired in 1964, when I was six and my sister was four. (uh oh, there's the abominable snow monster! My sister would be fleeing the room until the next commercial) I'm pretty sure I've seen it every year since. We watched it while we strung popcorn and cranberry garlands for the tree when I was a kid, and did the same with my kids. Nothing completes a Christmas tree like popcorn and cranberry garland. I'm too lazy to do it now, but I miss it.

Rudolf has probably been remastered; the colors are beautiful. As a card carrying citizen of the Island of Misfit Toys, it's good to see it again. Snowman Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" and "Holly Jolly Christmas", Hermie the Elf Dentist, Yukon Cornelius, the world's least successful miner, the Misfits Song, the Charlie in the Box, King Moonracer . . . The themes of exclusion and acceptance.

In this age of Pixar and CGI, it must seem awfully dated, but it has its own charm. At least I think so.

Quiz: Finish this quote and identify the speaker: "The thing about bumbles is, they _________" (two acceptable answers)



What became of all those wonderful stop action characters.

And I do not want to hear about any Rudolf slash!