Right now, it’s Christmas Eve/Christmas. 1:57am December 25th to be exact. The artist in me. I guess I am an artist... is screaming for John Hughes, this 2018 Christmas. I went on a tangent today. Watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.Hughes was only in his mid to late 30’s when he did this movie. I can’t fathom that even to this day. It seems harder and harder in this generation to get ahead. As a young lad, he was a true talent of his generation. I mean the Breakfast Club, He was just 34 years old.He was the epitome of the 80’s. I don’t care who you are, his films are true Americana classic. He instilled humor into the American psyche. I know most of us have a special film of his that’s true to our hearts and even today, resonates with the youth.As I watch National Lampoons, I see a lot of his hometown’s references. Chicago teams plastered everywhere. I get it. His love for his city and I love how he incorporates this vibe in most of his work.This is how I feel. I love Philly and I love South Jersey. It took me awhile to get there. I wanted to live far away in my 20’s and I did for a period in my adulthood. As I got older, I moved back home. When I had kids of my own, is when I started to truly appreciate it. Philly has grit. It has some style. It has a string of some pretty incredible history. I feel in love so much that I published a few books about South Jersey.I LOVE EVERY BIT of it and I love to show this in my work. It’s where I feel the Hughes connection, as I feel close to where I was raised and I try and capture the local essence. I also switched schools/ high schools like Hughes and felt like an oddity trying to fit in, in my teens. Just as he did. This is why I love him more. Still connected... even though he was disconnected, as he got older.All I can say is, I am truly looking forward to 2019. I felt 2018 was kind of a dud. I feel myself growing as an artist this year. It’s time to take risks. I no longer live in fear. Which may be a good or bad thing.I hope everyone had a great day with family. As family.... it's all that matters.Even in Home Alone the takeaway is family in the end :)