My favorite Christmas tradition was, in hindsight, pretty obnoxious.

I grew up before streaming and video on demand.

My parents did the difficult leg work, though.

They watched and recorded TV Christmas specials.

Without DVR, they had to physically sit and watch these movies to capture them on tape.

They’d even pause the recording to skip each commercial. That takes love.

Our ‘Christmas movies’ tape was carefully curated.

Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town were all obvious choices.

My parents and older siblings had branched out, too. They added a few films that haven’t reached “Holiday Classic” status. My favorite of their avant-garde selection was A Garfield Christmas.

Each year of my childhood that tape didn’t leave our VCR from December 1 to the 25th.

When the television wasn’t tied up by an adult or tuned to Saturday morning cartoons, I’d watch Christmas movies.

When the tape would reach the end, it would be rewound back to the beginning.

Then I’d play it all again.

My mother and I were the ones to decorate the house while the same tape played on a loop.

I don’t want to think about how many times she has seen each of those movies.

The real Christmas miracle was that tape surviving year after year.

A household “accident” could have spared her a lot of suffering.

Thanks, Mom. I appreciate your patience and Christmas spirit.