David Butler, Christmas in Oklahoma,1969
Scut Farkus!
Two of my favorite Christmas movies are It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. I’m sure most of you have seen at least parts of these movies as TBS usually airs them often during December. In fact, there has been a 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon every Christmas Day now for quite some time. I’ve probably seen the movie over 100 times and nothing says Christmastime quite like the tale of Ralphie and the dysfunctional but loving Parker family.
As an adult, I can relate to a lot of aspects of the movie. If you think about it, the movie has some good examples of day-to-day life. Here are a few:
Randy: Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-meatloaf. I hate meatloaf.
There’s nothing like going to your neighbors’ or in-laws’ house for dinner and they are serving liver and onions, stuffed cabbage and figs.
Ralphie: Oooh fudge!
Narrator (Ralphie as an adult): Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!
We’ve all been there. You’re out on a date and when the bill comes, you realize you left your wallet on the stand by the front door.
Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog dare you!
This is a great line to use when you and some friends have been doing Jaegermeister shots at a karaoke bar.
Ralphie: Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial?
How many times have you been reading some beautifully written, motivational story on FB, only to get to the end and find out it’s an ad about restless leg syndrome or acid reflux?!
Ralphie: I want a Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle. Oooooh!
Mother: No, you’ll shoot your eye out.
Try tasking (telling/asking) your wife you want a 2016 Key West 176CC with 115HP Yamaha, aluminum bimini top, aft seat backrest, Bluetooth stereo, hydraulic steering, dual battery switch and bow cushion.
Teacher: Now I know that some of you put Flick up to this, but he has refused to say who. But those who did it know their blame, and I’m sure that the guilt you feel is far worse than any punishment you might receive. Now, don’t you feel terrible? Don’t you feel remorse for what you have done?
Ralphie: Adults loved to say things like that but kids knew better. We knew darn well it was always better not to get caught.
Apply above reasoning to any guys’ trip.
When I was a starving actor out in LA years ago, a buddy of mine asked a friend of his to join us for lunch. This guy arrived with another guy and as the four of us “actors” ate, I kept looking at the guy across from me. He looked VERY familiar, so I of course asked him what show or movies I may have seen him in. He mentioned 3-4 shows that I had not seen. Finally, he reluctantly mentioned that as a kid he was in the movie A Christmas Story. My eyes widened and suddenly I blurted out, “Scut Farkus!”
For the rest of the meal I proceeded to quote line after line from the film. He was not impressed. When we got up to leave, I made the mistake of asking him if people come up to him to see if he has yellow eyes. By the look he gave me, I knew I was not gonna be Grover Dill. Oooh fudge!
