The Jon Venture

As the Venture family is finally calming down after an exhausting night of “holiday togetherness”, I find myself still gathering my thoughts amidst the scraps of wrapping paper that were left under the tree. There was nothing I wanted more last night than to simply take a break from my obnoxious and boorish extended family. Arms flew up inexplicably after amazing leaps in logic, red Solo cups were all over the house, and cornball music made before I was born filled the air. Yesterday was the perfect time for me to simply grab my keys, slip out the side door, and come back home to play my new copy of Assassin’s Creed 2.

Pulling out of the driveway on Christmas Eve though, I stopped short and once again parked my car on the torn-up lawn before heading back inside.

Any day of the year, at nearly any hour, I am able to escape my world and become my digital self. I can overthrow countries, perform amazing feats of strength, and indulge in every excess imaginable… except my family isn’t there to enjoy it with me. While yes, marketing campaigns and lowered price points make four-piece Rock Band and Guitar Hero kits easily available to most families with a seventh generation system in their living room, the reality is that there are still quite a few people who will be unable to cross the generational gap and enjoy virtual karaoke with their offspring. You can try your best to convince the older members how fun and easy this will all be, but chances are those who are set in their ways won’t even pick up a controller. Know what to do when they don’t want to play?

Turn off your game system. The red and green lights from your Xbox 360 faceplate do not count as Christmas lights.

There are only a few precious days per year that you have the opportunity to spend time with the majority of your family, no matter how loud or annoying you may think they can get. Rather than forcing your beloved games upon a generation still trying to decipher VCRs, try and realize that you may never get another chance to see all of these people in the same room again. Years from now, when your family unit grows apart over a petty argument or members pass, you will regret not spending more time with them.

If you are still reading this right now, go spend some time with the people that care about you the most. Your clan can do without you for one night. Cue up Elf or Gremlins, call over your family, and enjoy the precious time you have. The world will need saving again tomorrow night, and trust me- it will be waiting for you.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone.