re: I put A Christmas Story away for a few years and watched it again last night.

I really do love this movie. I didn't grow up in the time period of the movie, but for some reason, i felt like this was my childhood. The parents reminded me of my parents. The father is my favorite character. My favorite part of the movie that echoes of my past, is christmas morning, after they open the presents, the younger brother fell asleep holding his zeppelin on top of wrapping paper under the tree. The dad is drinking some wine with Ralphie and his mom on the couch. It just reminds me of being a kid. I remember falling asleep amid a pile of presents after the initial rush of opening everything. My parents made Christmas very special for my brother and me, and it's what i try to do for my 2 sons now, even though they are still very young.

My dad was a kid of the 30's and had a Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Ring. He loved A Christmas Story and loved Ralphie getting the ring and secret message. The part that rang the truest to him was Ralphie standing up to Scut Farkus. My dad's neighborhood bully was the same. Picked on you until you popped him in the nose, then he was done with you.

My Holy Grail as a kid was the P.F. Flyer Jonny Quest Magic Ring. It had a secret decoder and secret compartment, but the best part was the mirror inside that you could reveal to flash signals by reflecting the sun.