I separated when my son was little. He was three years old and suddenly I was a single dad with a life to build for him.

That first Christmas, I made big productions of doing Christmasy things together.

The first was the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center.

1/
It was past his bedtime, so I taped it. The next night, we baked cookies and watched it together.

A few nights later, it was more cookies and Rudolph.

Another night, we went to get hot chocolate and look at Christmas lights.

We called them Christmas Fun Nights.

2/
The next year, we watched the lighting of the tree again. And then we did all of those other things too.

They were excuses to just do something together in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Fun Nights were now a tradition.

3/
We had done them 10 years in a row before this year.

I cherish them. But that's me. I am a malomar: hard outer shell, marshmallow center. I'm sentimental as shit.

You don't always know how much your kids share in your sentiments though. And my son is 13 now. *Things change*

4/
Since COVID hit, to make it as easy on my son as possible, he just splits time between his homes. Spends a few days in one and then spends a few days in the other.

It's flexible. We just sort it out week to week. Easy.

5/
In December, when the week of the tree lighting rolled around, he was at his other parent's and we hadn't sorted out when I'd get him back.

I wasn't sure whether he really cared about watching the lighting - even though that has always been our first Christmas Fun Night.

6/
So, I figured I'd just play it cool and let him decide and be fine with whatever he wanted.

Sent him a text like people who are playing things cool do.

7/
I love that kid. I love that kid so much.

So I picked him up Weds instead of Thurs and we made cookies and watched the tree lighting and talked about Christmas Fun Nights and planned our next one.

8/
But most importantly we carried on a tradition that started that first winter as a single parent when I was just figuring it out.

This has been such a hard year in so many ways. But inside the compartmentalized world of my life with my son, this was a happy Christmas season.

9/
It started with that first text exchange on December 1st about this tradition of ours.

Someday, it will be him who is texting me. It will be my adult son asking if I'm coming over to watch the tree lighting.

And it will be me who replies "Is that even a question."

//

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More from @TheRealHoarse

27 Dec
I have a little story that I have now drafted and deleted multiple times because I can't seem to do it justice.

So, I am going to strip it down to the barest of details and just let it fly unedited.

Bear with me. It will be worth the ride, I hope.

1/
If you follow me, you have probably seen my endless posts about trying to find a PlayStation 5 (PS5).

Originally, I was looking for one for my son. I found one for him two weeks ago.

Since then, I have been looking for one for someone else.

An old friend.

2/
Jen and I have known each other 30 years.

We shared a mutual close friend in our 20s. We weren't close but hung out when we all met up at bars.

I've seen her once in 15 yrs. Bumped into her at Starbucks.

Were it not for Facebook, we would have entirely lost touch long ago.

3/
Read 21 tweets
25 Dec
I have an informal Christmas tradition.

It started seven years ago. I was not supposed to have my son for Christmas Eve that year but plans changed abruptly and suddenly I did.

Best gift I could get - but there went the time I had planned to spend prepping and wrapping.

1/
So, I spent the Eve with my son until he was fast asleep. And then I pulled an all-nighter wrapping gifts, doing a stocking, etc.

I finished just before 6 am and laid down next to him literally minutes before he opened his eyes with all the excitement of 6-YO on Christmas.

2/
Before I laid down though, the last thing I did was walk out to the street and just soak in the quiet of my house, dark but for the Christmas tree through the window.

I had pulled it off. Maybe my most memorable Christmas ever.

3/
Read 5 tweets
24 Dec
How wild would it be if you did a live performance on YouTube expecting only a few friends and family...

...but then a crowd showed up.

Wanna go to a concert with me?

It’s on now. I’m heading in.

The link:
I love this.

From 7 to 100+ in minutes.
This is just brightening my night...

I miss live music. Sitting in a place listening to someone you don't know, just along for the ride on whatever they play.

I'm cracking a beer. Cheers, y'all in the crowd with me.
Read 5 tweets
21 Dec
Found out today that my son's and my favorite deli has closed its doors.

I am sadder than it feels a person should be given all of the more terrible things going on.

It is sad as both the loss of a place we have a history with and as something larger though.

1/
The deli had been in business for 96 years.

It was no more than a simple storefront.

It had the look of a place that had been there a long time. Curled photos taped up above the register. Weathered signage on the walls. A couple of simple stools.

2/
The prior owners were two married couples. They worked together every day for 32 years save for a week or two each summer when they closed for vacation.

It was the kind of local place where you come to know the proprietors a bit over countless small fragments of conversation.
3/
Read 8 tweets
20 Dec
If you are still on the hunt for the impossible-to-find PlayStation 5, your last good shot before Xmas may be Target.

They are rumored to be dropping some inventory in the wee hours Mon morn but possibly sooner.

If you’re trying to score one...

1/
May want to follow the list of accounts I have made public.

They are super quick on the draw in announcing when retailers have stock.

Here it is...

2/

twitter.com/i/lists/131674…
If you want to have your very best shot:

- follow each of the accounts on that list
- click on the bell icon on their bio pages to receive alerts when they post
- setup an acct on the Target site or app with payment method in advance
- keep an ear open between 5-7 am

3/
Read 4 tweets
15 Dec
It’s possible to both like Mayor Pete and question the fit as head of Transportation.

Can’t say that I see the logic there.
Folks, if your answer describes why this is good *for Pete* you are missing the point.

If your answer is “He’s smart. He’ll learn.” would you enjoy your new boss having no clue about your job, company and industry and still being in charge?
If you bashed Trump for putting unqualified people friendly to his campaign in charge, ya can’t suddenly say that’s fine now.

Buttigieg either is or isn’t qualified for that particular role.

I can’t see how he is.
Read 4 tweets

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