What’s your favorite meme?
I like memes. They’re witty, they’re short, and they are usually loaded with pop culture allusions. I kind of think of myself as a “meme guy,” though I’m not quite as heavily into them as some people are.
I actually have a friend on Facebook—a woman I initially started talking to through a dating app—who does a massive “meme dump” every few days. It’s a lot. When I see someone regularly dropping half a dozen memes in a single social media post, it makes me feel like they can’t find the words to properly articulate how they actually feel. I get the effectiveness of a good meme, but I don’t want to live my life through them either.
Originally, I was going to share several of my favorites, but I decided to follow the prompt’s suggestion and narrow it down to just one. I actually made this one myself (featured at the top of this post).
If you aren’t familiar with the scene, this is one of the very last shots of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and that line happens to be the final bit of dialogue in the movie.
Let me set the scene: after all of the hilarity, the hijinks, and the utter chaos, everything is finally right with the world once again. Clark Griswold successfully hosted his first extended family Christmas. He got his holiday bonus. He was finally able to get the swimming pool. He persevered through his yuppie neighbors, his hillbilly cousin Eddie, his in-laws, his own parents, and even the voluptuous store clerk.
When I first saw this movie in theaters as a kid back in 1989, I think I understood the significance of the line to a point. Clark was proud of himself. But as I’ve gotten older and become a father myself, this line has taken on a much deeper meaning.
I have had moments where, in a brief pocket of solitude, I simply looked up to the heavens and thought, “I did it.” Whether it’s traveling across the country to see Kid 1, or getting both boys together for the holidays and making the whole Santa Claus magic happen for them. As men, we’re rarely celebrated. We’re simply expected to deliver the goods. The truth is, few people stop to ask how we’re feeling; we really are on an island unto ourselves. And I’m quickly approaching a time in my life where I know no help is waiting in the wings for me.
The “I Did It” Moments
This meme is hitting me especially hard today. At about 12:45 this morning, I was having my own “I did it” moment. I managed to get both of the boys together on Thursday. Today has been something of a recovery day for all of us. The kids are having fun at the house, and I’m not pushing them into heavy activities right now. We’ll save that for Saturday and Sunday.
Changes are coming, fast and furiously. Remember that “waiting room” I talked about earlier this week? We’re out of it now. On Tuesday, Mother will be coming back to the house for the summer. I know I’m not fully prepared for how much that is going to affect the everyday lives of both Phred and me.
Cutting the Dead Weight
To add to the transition, I finally sold my old car yesterday. I was holding onto it just until the transactions with Mother were completed, because I didn’t want to end up in a situation where I didn’t own a vehicle. That old car had honestly become something of an albatross. Yeah, it’s just steel and rubber, but parting with it feels deeply symbolic of this entire transition phase I’ve been navigating for the past few years.
I’m cutting away the dead weight. I’m moving forward. This was all baggage that was held onto for way too long, and I am right in the midst of some serious growth and awakening. I don’t want to sound too melodramatic, but that’s exactly what’s happening right now. The waiting room is empty, the decks are cleared, and I’m ready for what’s next.
Looking Toward the Horizon
Tomorrow, I’ll find something fun to do with the boys. Maybe a couple of things. They’ve earned it—and I’m certain that I have, too.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Whether I’m on the road beyond 1,000 consecutive days of blogging or reflecting on the decade of work that brought me here, the mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
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The article ““I Did It” — Finding Meaning in a Christmas Vacation Meme” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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