I just returned from a holiday visit to my parents and other assorted family members in Baltimore.

These trips are precious to me because my mom and dad are 77 and 85, respectively, and although still in reasonably good health, seem to not be getting any younger. The trips also represent precious opportunities for quality time with my brother's only child, my nine year old niece, Christina.

Christina has been getting into movie musicals lately. My mom has been showing her classics like My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Singin' in the Rain.  She loved the singing and dancing and Deborah Kerr's "big dresses" in The King and I, but she hated it when [SPOILER ALERT!] the King died at the end. "I like it better when they get married," she explained. But far above the rest, as far as Christina is concerned, is the musical adaptation of the John Waters classic "Hairspray," a gift we watched  five times together in as many days. After the first viewing she exclaimed, "I love this movie! If I could I would watch this movie every day for the rest of my life UNTIL I DIE!"

Watching it with her four more times in recent days, I found myself trying to sort out exactly what it was about this picture that was pushing her buttons so effectively.

I've recently kinda won the prize of my home being the headquarters for my family's holiday celebrations.

That's something I can deal with, as it's a lot of fun to have my family here enjoying themselves. When my partner and I moved here to be closer to them, their being in my home for holidays was a prime consideration.

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