I guess it is time for my annual Christmas rant. Let me start by saying I understand that some stores, like craft or fabric stores need to get the Christmas stuff out early. If you want to make stuff for Christmas you need to start early. However I do not understand why every store seems to start pushing Christmas earlier and earlier. Here in Southeast Texas the weather forecast is for high temperatures in the mid 80’s next week. As a former yankee how as I suppose to think about Christmas? As Elizabeth posts pictures from around our house, you will not see any Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I do not allow it. It is one of the few things I absolutely insist. So what started this?
Many candies come in different colors for different holidays. These include M&M's and Hershey’s Kisses. Both had Halloween and fall colors. The Halloween were orange and black while fall is a mix of yellow, brown and orange. The other day we were at the grocery and all of the “Halloween” candy was on sale. This included the fall colors. This is actually good for us as Elizabeth likes to have a jar of fall colored candy out for Thanksgiving guests. Thankfully the merchants have not yet figured a way to completely commercialize Thanksgiving so I guess they have just decided to ignore it. In every store we have visited since Monday, only Christmas stuff is on display. I guess I should be happy that they have not tried to sell Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has always been an important holiday to me. To me Thanksgiving always has been and still is about family and friends getting together. It is about a house full of the smell of dinner cooking. I just think as a society in general we are starting to forget Thanksgiving. I guess this holiday got even more important to me last Thanksgiving as it was the last time I saw my Mom. Elizabeth made it a magical holiday and I will forever be thankful. This year we will celebrate with family and friends. How many of each we are not sure yet. But it will be about sharing food and time with both. It will be about traditions. I think traditions are important. They provide continuity from generation to generation. So for the next three weeks I will focus on all the reasons I have to be thankful. It is a long list. First and foremost I am thankful that Elizabeth is part of my life. She works so hard to provide a wonderful home and meals for us. More than that she has taught me what is really important in life and what is not. Because of her I am a better person today. I am thankful for my health. While it is not the best it is a lot closer to the top of the scale than the bottom. I try to remember with all my “problems” there are those who would trade places with me in a heartbeat. None of my problems are terminal. I am thankful for my job which allows me to provide for my family. I am thankful for family, friends. I am thankful for so much. I think we as a nation have so much to be thankful for that it irritates me we minimize Thanksgiving. Time to get off my soapbox and eat lunch.
Many candies come in different colors for different holidays. These include M&M's and Hershey’s Kisses. Both had Halloween and fall colors. The Halloween were orange and black while fall is a mix of yellow, brown and orange. The other day we were at the grocery and all of the “Halloween” candy was on sale. This included the fall colors. This is actually good for us as Elizabeth likes to have a jar of fall colored candy out for Thanksgiving guests. Thankfully the merchants have not yet figured a way to completely commercialize Thanksgiving so I guess they have just decided to ignore it. In every store we have visited since Monday, only Christmas stuff is on display. I guess I should be happy that they have not tried to sell Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has always been an important holiday to me. To me Thanksgiving always has been and still is about family and friends getting together. It is about a house full of the smell of dinner cooking. I just think as a society in general we are starting to forget Thanksgiving. I guess this holiday got even more important to me last Thanksgiving as it was the last time I saw my Mom. Elizabeth made it a magical holiday and I will forever be thankful. This year we will celebrate with family and friends. How many of each we are not sure yet. But it will be about sharing food and time with both. It will be about traditions. I think traditions are important. They provide continuity from generation to generation. So for the next three weeks I will focus on all the reasons I have to be thankful. It is a long list. First and foremost I am thankful that Elizabeth is part of my life. She works so hard to provide a wonderful home and meals for us. More than that she has taught me what is really important in life and what is not. Because of her I am a better person today. I am thankful for my health. While it is not the best it is a lot closer to the top of the scale than the bottom. I try to remember with all my “problems” there are those who would trade places with me in a heartbeat. None of my problems are terminal. I am thankful for my job which allows me to provide for my family. I am thankful for family, friends. I am thankful for so much. I think we as a nation have so much to be thankful for that it irritates me we minimize Thanksgiving. Time to get off my soapbox and eat lunch.
7 Comments:
I want to tell you how much I enjoy both your blogs. I was at our local HEB yesterday and saw the lighted christmas tress inside and wondered myself what about Thanksgiving, did someone forget about it, I agree with your "rant" and think we need to just enjoy the holidays as they are meant to be and stop rushing life.
Dave,
You and Elizabeth have the best posts. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite too. Giving thanks for all that we have and try not to take for granted. Family means everything to me. I always pray God will send us more family. Through death and those who have gone on to pursue much money we have lost most of ours. We are both thankful for our jobs and for retirement that will come in the next few years. I'll use this time to make my home a warm and wonderful place for the few family members that are left. And friends too. Wishing you both the most wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday of all. The gathering of family and friends, counting our blessings and enjoying each one with the stress of shopping,wrapping, and giving gifts. Love your post! Hope you and Elizabeth have a blessed weekend and she is soon feeling better.
Thank you Dave!! My husband has made wood ornaments to go out in the front for Thanksgiving.. We have always felt the retail business has forgotten Thanksgiving...Now they are playing commmercials..Today in the sunday newspaper they have the "toy" catalogs out..I know the economy is bad and they are pushing more sales but if people don't have the $$'s to spend for Christmas they aren't going to have it early either.
Take the time to be thankful for family and friends this month..We never know..Both my husband and I have lost both sets of parents..It is so important to take the time to love and cherish those around us..
Have a great Sunday...Lisa
Well said!
I absolutely agree! For a while here they were pushing every holiday months ahead of time. I remember a few years seeing Christmas items out in the stores beginning in Sept. Enough people must have complained because now they seem to be back to mid-October which is still very early.
Dear Dave,
What a sweet post. I don't think its a rant at all.
I know you lost your Mom this past year, I am so sorry. I know how hard holidays are...
I've always loved Thanksgiving ~ like you said it's all about family and food. What could be better? I try to stay out of the stores as much as possible because I don't want to look at Christmas stuff yet. When I was a kid we put the tree up on Christmas Eve and took it down the day after the Epiphany. The twelve days of Christmas.
What a beautiful tribute to your wife. I love Elizabeth, I can't tell you enough what a blessing she is to my life!
Oh, I love M&M's too.
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