Ever since I can remember, my Pa has hated, HA-TED the movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Folklore says it’s because the TV station played it one December evening instead of the show he really wanted to watch.

I get it… sort of. I’d be a bit perturbed if after a long day, I settled down for an episode of Survivor and then some dumb cartoon like Calliou went on instead***

However, it turns out that what I’ve known my whole life is only a tiny fraction of the story.

While decorating their tree with my parents this past weekend, Pa treated my children to the full tale of why he hates The Grinch.

Picture it, Long Island, 1970ish:

Pa spent his day working on Wall Street in Manhattan.

He was up and out before the sun rose in order to catch the Babylon train to Penn Station.

To quote Sheena Easton:

🎶 He worked from 9 to 5 and then…

he took another home again…

to find (Lol) waiting for him 🎶

Once home, he went upstairs, changed out of his suit and into comfortable clothes, ala Mr. Rodgers.

Like every other night, Lol had a warm dinner waiting for him on the table – his favorite: chop steak, mashed potatoes, and corn.

Finally, he retired to the den to watch his favorite program, Gunsmoke.

But what to his wondering eyes should appear?…

A green cartoon monster and Boris Karloff in his ear!

And that folks, as they say … is history.

He got up, turned off the big, bubble-back TV, and has been crying about it ever since.

But ya know the real kicker? I was always under the impression that he had seen the movie and didn’t like it.

I figured, to add insult to injury, it replaced his regularly scheduled programming, so he hated it even more.

Nope.

My weirdo father has NEVER SEEN HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! AND VOWED ON THAT NIGHT IN DECEMBER, MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY AGO, THAT HE NEVER WILL!! On principle.

I told PJ the story that night, and he asked, “But shouldn’t he be mad at CBS for running it instead of the movie itself?”

I looked him square in the face and said, “Really? You have to ask? It’s my father. Why does he do anything he does?”

He nodded knowingly in agreement.

The sad thing is, I think he’d actually love the movie.

The irony is that he won’t watch The Grinch because he enjoys being The Grinch 🤣

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*** The Calliou reference was for parents of teens. I know a chill went down your spine thinking of that bald little shit whining, “But mowwwmmmyyyyyyyyy….” just as if you were standing in your kitchen 10 years ago, cutting nugs up into bite-size pieces 😣😣😣