After our parents’ divorce, Christmases were split: even years in Iowa with Mom, odd years with Dad in New York and then North Carolina. Unfairly to Mom, we enjoyed Dad Christmases as is usually meant more: more food, more sweets, more gifts, more fun. Very difficult for her to compete.
Christmas 1975 was at my dad’s/step-mom’s Bronx apartment, as I specifically remember receiving my first album K-Tel’s Superhits of the Superstars. The big hit for everyone was a home version of Pong that connected to your television and which we played for hours. There were two of them, one for my dad’s family and one his Iowa children to take home.
Our excitement faded quickly after returning home as Mom made her intent to return it to our dad known – she had no intention of us being first-generation video game addicts. I don’t remember whether we played it or if it was even unboxed, but it soon vanished, it’s fate unknown: returned, hidden, sold, given away? Regardless, it was never to be seen again.
Over the years she softened, and in the late-1980s/early-1990s – well after I moved out – Santa delivered an early-gen home video game console to Mom! Her parental logic was, as her gift, she could manage/control how much younger half-siblings played it and attempt to prevent their overdosing on video games.
I have no idea how well that worked, but again she tried to protect her children!
