How did he miss this growing up?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

This year, I discovered that Drake had never seen Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I had been having a hankering to see it (since we don't have TV it's been years and years) so yesterday when I got home from work I found the DVD (unwrapped) under the tree. Santa dropped off an early package!

What is especially odd about Drake not having seen this is that Burl Ives is from his home town. In fact, the Ives family farm is just across the highway from his folks' place.

I was somewhat amazed at how much of it I remembered - to the point of being able to recite lines. It has to be at least 25 years since I've seen it.

I suspect they don't make Christmas specials like this anymore. There are a lot of adult lessons woven into this ("Rudolph grew up and he realized he couldn't run away from his problems"). And the other reindeer are pretty darn cruel - including the coach who's going to "make sure Rudolph doesn't play any Reindeer games." That can't help but tug at your heart! Of course, individuality triumphs in the end.