Seasonal inspiration from TV commercials

I'm a big sap these days with all the sentimental holiday ads on TV.  Sure certain Christmas movies get me all choked up. For example, "The Family Man" is one. The scene at the end where Nicholas Cage's character confronts Tea Leoni's character in the airport, and before he can finish saying "We have a house in Jersey" I'm grabbing a tissue and dabbing my eyes. Yeah, I know.

Maybe you've seen that Apple commercial called, "Misunderstood"? It's where the young teen is shown being all introverted with his cell phone while his entire family is having all sorts of holiday fun. Then, the twist at the end. He was only quietly filming everything to make a memorable video which he shares with everyone on Christmas morning. The family gets emotional. Grandma wipes away a tear. Mom gets all weepy. And...I need a kleenex.

Then, there's the Kohl's commercial, "Christmas Surprise". A couple enters an apartment and decorates it complete with tree, stockings hung by the fireplace, and other little holiday touches. Then you see an elderly woman enter the apartment building and the couple runs across the hall to their own apartment where they quietly peek from behind their door as the woman opens her door and sees her place all decked out for Christmas. Sniff, sniff.

The holidays can be a stressful time with all the rushing, shopping, and wrapping that even the sweetest of Bob Cratchits can become a seasonal Grinch. So, thanks to both of these companies for reminding us that family and kindness are what's important, especially at this time of year.