The Obligatory Christmas Blog- but this one is in the Bronx, 70's style

(I can't believe I never put this up, but considering the time of year, I had to bring it over from Myspace. I originally posted this on Christmas, 2006.)

Let's face it- Christmas is for kids. Every year I lose more and more interest in Christmas. It's now just a nice day off. The roads are quiet, but unfortunately most of the stores are closed. Anyway, I decided to go through my old family album and scan some photos of Christmas past. Enjoy...

1971- I was just 4 months old. Needless to say, I don't remember this Christmas very well. I don't know what to say about my Mother's tree decorating aesthetic, but I was too young to argue. And yes, that's my Dad dressed as Santa.

1972- My brother had been born just a few weeks earlier, and I guess my Mom was too busy dealing with the little demon, so there were no family pics. I only have this one of Santa traumatizing me-

1973- Christmas Eve. Again, look at the garland on this tree. She insisted on going not only AROUND the tree with this nightmare, but up and down. It wasn't until I was 16 that I convinced her to stop doing this (or maybe she was tired of listening to my bitch about it...)

That's my brother on my Dad's lap, and my Uncle Dom and Grandpa Frank who I mentioned in a previous blog. I am guessing Aunt Inez didn't trust us because not only is the couch covered in plastic, but it appears there is also a white sheet to protect it from us.

Christmas night at my cousin's apartment by the Bronx Zoo. She's my favorite cousin (Hi Chrissy, are you reading this?) and I am pretty sure this is the Christmas I was accused of "locking her" in her play refrigerator. I am neither confirming nor denying it happened. I'm just saying that if I did do it, I was probably just jealous because I didn't get a fake kitchen for Christmas.

Here is my brother, causing mischief no doubt, but what I find interesting is- look to his right- is it just me or is that some sort of Playboy paraphernalia? Nothing says Christmas like boobies!

1974- My parents were smart enough to get a picture of the toys before they woke us up. I still remember that I loved playing with that McDonalds restaurant. (Note the wood paneling in my apartment. I have an aversion to wood paneling to this day- no doubt from my early days in this apartment).

And we came running in on cue

I totally remember riding that "fire truck" around the front yard (when I say yard, I mean the 6 foot by 15 foot cement fenced in area, this was the Bronx after all).

That same year we visited my Great Grandparents on Southern Blvd in the Bronx, and I just think these two photos are a wonderful time capsule. I love how Great Grandma Celia is over the stove (back, left). That's me, in the back, by the door.

Look at the lamps and abundance of gaudiness, not to mention the plastic on the couch. Can you guess we're Italian?

Here are more Christmas photos -

1975 and Dad is dressed as Santa again. I don't know how he fooled us, but he did (yes, that's me below)

1976 Our living room Christmas display - This is just so tacky

But it didn't stop me from tearing into my presents

1977 Christmas Eve and I wore my "holly hobbie" dress. I loved that dress.

My brother loved the Fonz. AAAYYYYYYYYY

As usual my hair is out of control (Christmas morning)

My Dad, the avid body builder, gave "baby dumbbells" to his baby dumbbells.

1978 Seriously, I will never understand her aesthetic-

but I guess as long as there were gifts with my name on them, I didn't care too much

The next year (1979) we were in Yonkers and for some reason they stopped documenting our Christmas's.