Staying Apart, Together: A very Merry Christmas, no matter what it looks like

What is the memory you associate most with Christmas, if you celebrate? For me it's pancakes. My dad, in pajamas and a robe and bright red reindeer antlers, flipping the sweet breakfast treat at the stove. 

For most Christmases, my whole family gathers at my parents' house in the Philadelphia suburbs. My sister and her wife fly in from London, one of the only times we get to see each other with so much distance between us. My other sister and her family make the trek from Michigan. Last Christmas we fit eight adults, five dogs and one toddler in one house. 

Like the rest of you, my Christmas will be drastically different this Friday. I won't get to see my sisters or my niece or new nephew. We won't be able to open presents in the same room in our pajamas (as a staunch traditionalist, I never let anyone get dressed before unwrapping a box). But we are doing our best with the situation we have. There will be a Zoom, there will be too many presents for my niece because we're all missing her so much, and I will definitely be making pancakes. 

I know that all of you are making huge sacrifices this Christmas, forgoing tradition and the comfort of hugs from your loved ones to keep them, yourself and all the rest of us safe. It won't be easy, but hopefully next Christmas we'll be back together next to the tree. 

I leave you with my best wishes, all the cheer I can muster, and these photos of when I forced my dogs into Christmas hats. There's Cory, on the left, my childhood dog who loved me but hated hats, and my dog Apollo on the right, surprised to wake up in a Santa cap. 

To quote old Saint Nick himself, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all good night!" 

Today's movie recommendations (100 of them)

2020 has been a rough year for the movies. 

Production and cinema shut downs have caused unprecedented upheaval in the film industry, but amid all the bad news and delayed film releases, there were still some truly beautiful, entertaining and eye-opening films this year. 

Our film critic Brian Truitt pivoted his approach to covering movies as theaters closed, focusing on streaming releases either filmed before the pandemic began or under strict safety protocols. As he writes, "We've been doing "what to stream" weekly guides for a while now, highlighting high-profile films, hidden gems and everything in between." 

He combed through all the movies he's watched this year, and he watches a lot of movies, to find 100 that will bring some joy during your holidays, especially if your regular traditions have been canceled. 

Here are five recommendations from the "yuletide cheer" category in Brian's story. Once you get through them, there are 95 to go! 

• "The Christmas Chronicles 2" (Netflix): Kurt Russell (again) proves he's the best Santa around. This time with a saxophone.
• "Christmas on the Square" (Netflix): Dolly Parton sings like an angel and plays one, too!
• "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" (Netflix): The rare holiday flick that boosts Black voices and puts an emphasis on female ingenuity.
• "Dear Santa" (VOD): Good luck not tearing up watching this documentary after hearing kids' letters to the Man with the Bag.
• "Happiest Season" (Hulu): The lesbian Christmas rom-com that proves Kristen Stewart's funny and Aubrey Plaza rules.

You can see the full list here. 

Today's reads

• The creator of a massive Christmas light display, who is color blind, finally was able appreciate his work in technicolor, thanks to some cool glasses. 
• Here is a very cool video of last night's conjunction shot from a telescope at the Cincinnati Observatory. 
• A look back at how 2020 changed how we eat food (hint: ordering takeout online). 
• Here's what to do if you get a gift in the mail but have no idea who it is from. 
• Country music star Russell Dickerson gave an accessible car to Utah teen hit by drunk driver. Try not to cry while reading. 
• We talked to George Clooney (well Brian Zoomed with him and I'm jealous) about how his new film resonates differently during a pandemic. 

Today's pet

Speaking of pets all dressed up for the holidays, please peek at this precious kitten with a jingle bell collar. 

"Meet Arnold," write humans Todd and Amy Ofenbeck of Fort Myers, Florida. "He’s a 4 -week-old kitten our dogs found in our backyard! He’s named after Arnold Palmer."

Would you like a bowl of half lemonade, half iced tea, sweet kitten? 

That's all for this Tuesday. Thank you so much for reading, I shall be back on Saturday, aka Boxing Day. Don't forget, I want to put together a list of entertainment that helped you get through this year, so email me books, movies, TV shows and more that you relied on to stayingaparttogether@usatoday.com. I will be thinking of you all on Christmas Day as I Zoom with my family. 

All my very best,

Kelly Lawler