Christmas Coke, M&M’s, and Top 5 Gifts

I want to take a look back at Christmas’ past in my life, there are so many awesome memories and even more awesome presents. I have a lot of Christmas memories and traditions that i can’t particularly explain. For example Christmas Coke.

Yeah, I am one of those people that HONESTLY believe that Christmas Coke tastes better than Coke at any other time of year. Growing up I couldn’t explain it. I didn’t know if maybe it had more sugar, or more syrup, or if it was made by Santa’s Elves. All I cared about was that I loved Coke at Christmas. Well in vast 25 year old wisdom I’ve realized why Christmas Coke does IN FACT taste better.

Christmas Coke tastes better at Christmas because THATS HOW I REMEMBER IT. When I was little I wasn’t really supposed to Drink pop/soda all the time so when I did get to drink some it was the best thing in the world. Christmas happened to be the one time of year that the family ALWAYS had Coke as it was looked on as a treat. Just like the Green and Red M&M’s that my Grandmother would always have out accompanied by peppermint hard candies and cinnamon gum drops. So its no surprise that when I think of Christmas these are the first things to come to mind and absolute MUST HAVES at Christmas time.

I’m sure all of you, my reader’s (if there are any) have things that remind you of Christmas too. And so what if its not your stereotypical “THE TREE!!” or “SNOW!!” Things like Christmas Lights and Presents remind everyone of Christmas, I’m talking about deep down the things that make Christmas Christmas.

Since I am on the topic I thought I would reminisce about some of the greatest gifts I ever got for Christmas as I remember them. I’m sure you all have gifts that you remember getting like you just got them yesterday. You know, like the first bike or your fiancee proposing? Yeah well neither of those made my list but here goes.

5. “The Lizard” Action Figure

You might wonder how something so small could have been such a big deal? Simple, this was my favorite character in the Spider-Man Universe (still is in case you were wondering) and HE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND! For anyone who actually collected action figures or even just bought them as a kid knows there is always ONE DAMN FIGURE that the company makes hard as hell to get. Mind you this is before you can just order anything you want online circa 1992. I don’t know how they did, and I’m just gonna chalk it up to Christmas Magic, My family found the diamond in the rough and made that Christmas one of the best ever.

4. Pokemon Blue Version

This was one of those gifts that pushed me toward becoming a “gamer” I got this beauty at the same time as my Nintendo Gameboy Color. My friend got the Red version and we spent all Christmas Break playing the games. When I returned to school I was shocked to discover three friends in my class had also received this magnificent game and I quickly became hooked. If it hadn’t been for pokemon my gaming would have been limited as would many of the things it eventually led to like Graphic Design and yes… Magic the Gathering.

3. The Ghostbusters Fire House

What can I say? I was destined to be a dork from an early age as all of the gifts on this list will show you. But come on, I know how bad every boy wanted this when they were younger, don’t try to deny it. Ok if you weren’t into the Ghostbusters maybe not, but I bet you still understand the DESIRE to have the big Toy. Every action figure line had one. Im not ashamed to say that two of them made my list (see number 2) These were the castles, home bases and playsets that most kids just never got to see. This was what took the child from simply pretending a stack of books is a fire station and making his imagination come full force. I have to add that this is one of the best constructed toy buildings I think I have ever seen. I still have mine to this days with the exception of the doors which I remember removing because they got in the way, the whole thing is still together in one piece. It may not seem that amazing but considering how I played with my toys, its always a miracle when anything pre-1999 can be found in tact.

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sewer Playset

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to get this. I was 4!! and I still remember this like I remember my graduation day or the time I saw the original Turtles Movie in theaters. I stopped opening up my presents right then and there, I MADE my parents put it together and would have been completely content with Christmas right then and there. That was the year my parents stopped letting me pick which gifts i opened and saved the big ones for last I know own two of these as I have collected Turtles Toys for a few years now and I can honestly say I was still just as excited when receiving the second one. There is something about getting “the big toy” that still makes me giddy to this day I will always be a kid at heart i guess, but I’m not complaining. If anything I feel sorry for everyone that has lost their sense of childish wonderment, it really is an awesome feeling

1. The Nintendo Entertainment System Control Deck

Any of you readers that know me might have seen this coming. And honestly i can say that this did not make the list because I was the most excited to get it. In fact i vividly remember not knowing what it was. I had heard about some friends playing video games, and i had been to an arcade once or twice with my parents but at the ripe young age of 5, I honestly was only mildly intrigued by the present. I was much more caught up with my new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Toys. But of all the gifts I have ever received  this one has by far had the biggest impact on my life. I remember when we sat down to set it up in my parents room that the first one didn’t work. We had to return it and get a new one. However we forgot to include the Mario/Duck Hunt game with the console and as such I had two copies of it. Those and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were the only games I had. But it didn’t matter. The first time I picked up that controller I was scared, I didn’t want to be bad at it and I was content watching mom and dad play. But once I finally did venture off on my own and as its abundantly clear, I never looked back.

I hope my little venture down memory lane has brought back some good ones for you too. I would love to hear about your Holiday memories and what gifts stand out above the rest. Comment here and let me know and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all my readers