This year, we all have a lot of grievances to air.

But this blog is not about grievances. This blog is about research, about getting to the bottom of the most important issues facing us every day.

Loyal Scaiaholics will recall I enjoy heading home to Ohio each Christmas to see reminders of how super I am and my concerns that Dayton is losing its funk.

But COVID-19 made the trip home socially unacceptable this year. The Scaias have decided to get together in the spring. By then, we’ll be up to COVID-21.

Small family gatherings have helped distract us from the pandemic and helped us focus on what’s truly important. I’ve covered the food banks’ mega mobile pantries all year.

For the last one before Christmas, the Tarrant Area Food Bank even included a turkey. The head of the food bank explained even though a turkey might be considered a luxury, they wanted to help families provide a joyous occasion. Christmas dinner could be a distraction from financial problems or a lost job, even if the joy would be short-lived.

Naturally, this soundbite led to a major controversy.

“In the South, we call it dressing, you Yankee,” an associate texted me.

I explained I used the exact same term the speaker used. A journalist does not mold a story to fit a pre-conceived narrative, whether it’s about politics or side dishes.

And by distracting us from COVID-19, small family gatherings also give us a chance to argue about issues.

Even though a #VeryScaiaChristmas had to be canceled this year, the fam has Zoomed a couple times.

That came in handy during a group text with associates. Because everyone hasn’t argued enough this year, several associates are in a group text situation about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

“Came out July 4th!” one exclaimed.

“Christmas movies don’t have to come out at Christmas time. Does this mean Star Wars is a Christmas movie because it was released during December?” another responded.

One of those associates instructed me to ask my brother, a Hollywood muckity-muck. My brother explained Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie.

“And Die Hard 2,” he continued.

Maybe Die Hard is not a movie about Christmas, but it’s set at Christmas time, and my brother elucidated that John McClane didn’t seek out these major plots. He was, instead, forced into these situations, not unlike the Virgin Mary being chosen by God [Note from the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth: John McClaine and the Virgin Mary do not share similarities in being chosen by God].

To add to this discussion: I would posit Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a film appropriate for the entire holiday season even though it’s set at Thanksgiving. The issues of inclusiveness and the importance of family are appropriate year round, but especially at Christmas. #HotTake

We also screened the Christmas episode of Perfect Strangers. This Christmas, we’re all Cousin Larry Appleton: We all long to be home with family, but this year, we’ll celebrate in a smaller setting. Balki, far from home himself, helped Cousin Larry learn the importance of living in the moment, of celebrating what you have, not lamenting what you’re missing.

If we focus on appreciating all we do have, perhaps we can all be the Christmas Boy this year.