Are Hallmark Movies For Everyone?

By: Gary R. Oman, CPA, PFS, MST

In a word, yes! However, I’m going to start off with my complaints about Hallmark Christmas movies…I said complaints, plural, just because there are so many. The commercials! They last forever and there must be at least 40, maybe more, interrupting every 2-hour movie. That’s it, no other complaints.

Now for the good stuff…the commercials. I know what I just said, however, during those 40 or so commercials, you know how many steps you can get in or, if you’re hungry, there’s enough time to prepare a grilled cheese sandwich and pour yourself a glass of milk…during just one commercial break!

More good stuff…you can watch a Hallmark movie with your wife or with your family; no bad language and no sex scenes; and every Hallmark movie has a happy ending with “the” kiss!

I’m happy to say I have watched close to a dozen Hallmark Christmas movies so far this season and have enjoyed them all. They are lighthearted, happy and lack any serious, anxiety-producing drama. These movies provide a welcomed reprieve from the constant droning of coronavirus news and statistics and the ongoing daily “noise” out of Washington when it seems there has been nothing really going on, well we did have an election, until over just a few days last weekend, Congress passed a $900B/5,000+ page relief bill.

Oh, yes…one evening, out of the blue, Dianne switches the channel to Lifetime (oh boy!) to watch Snowed Inn Christmas. The story line has Jenna and Kevin, co-workers but competitors, volunteer for a special assignment but get stranded by a blizzard in, where else but, Santa Claus, Indiana and ultimately are drawn together when they join the fight to save the historic town inn. I like it, I think you will too…just think “steps”, every 12 minutes or so!

When I look back on the year 2020, with Covid-19, working from home and staying at home, not seeing family or friends, missed Aruba vacations, campaigning and the presidential election, and toilet paper shortages (of all things), for me those memories will also include many enjoyable evenings watching Hallmark Christmas movies with Dianne. Not sure yet whether this phenomenon will repeat again in December 2021. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Let me know which Hallmark Christmas movie is your favorite. I’ll try to squeeze it in before this movie season is all over.

There is so much for which to be grateful, our family, our good health, our friends and much more. Thank you for reading my stories.

Best wishes for a Christmas and a New Year holiday you won’t soon forget! Take care and stay safe.

Until next time…

Gary

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