No Place Like Home for the Holidays

I love the Holidays. Thanksgiving is great, but there's nothing like Christmas. In my family we do Christmas right. We get together for about three days and don't leave until at least one of us has passed out, puked, screamed at one another, and hugged about a thousand times. It's always a great reminder of why we both love and hate our families. Or is it love to hate? I think it's that we love them so much, we sometimes hate them - becaytuse we can. It's a luxury we can afford. We kindof take them for granted - they're the only ones who will still love us unconditionally even though we DO take them for granted.
My brother and I are a great example of this. Two more similar - and more different at the same time - guys you'll never meet. Sometimes we'll both laugh at something no one else is laughing at, and if you asked us what is funny we couldn't tell you. It's like a psychic mind meld or something. On a spiritual level, we're the same.
But then it's like putting the same soul in both Mike Tyson and Andy Dick's body (I'm Iron Mike in this scenario). The same passion they have, the same creative forces, are going to be put toward equally opposite ventures. While I'm scheming ways to prepare for war, he's scheming ways to prepare for his mani/pedi (that's a maicure and pedicure guys).
And movies - it's like Ebert and Larry the Cable guy. (All right, I'll make myself Larry in this scenario - I'm not that selfish). With my brother it's all about the artistic merit of the film. He can't just allow himself to enjoy a movie just because it's fun. He's got to break down if it's realistic, if it's cheesy, if it's trite, if the acting is good, if the script is good...What about if it's just not boring? If it doesn't bore me, I'll be happy. Isn't that what it's supposed to be - entertainment? Who cares if it stands up to Hamlet? As long as I didn't fall asleep, as long as I laugh and cry and crap myself, I'm all good.
But that's just me. He can't just leave it at that. He has to make sure it's Oscar caliber. And sure, that's all okay. It takes different perspectives to make a family, and it takes all kinds to make a world. Sure, it's easier to get along when we all think the same way, but that would be soooooo boring. And you know how I hate boring. I had a nephew this Christmas who told me he was going to chuch it all and become an anarchist. And actually that was the one perspective I thought might be reasonable. Think about it.