Don't Rain on My (Thanksgiving Day) Parade

The Thanksgiving turkey. Available to purchase through our Shopping/Seasonal Shopping/Holiday Entertaining Page...hey, even I have to make a living!

Due to an unusually early artic front blasting the country this week, today dawned with a cold windy rain, promising to blow the remainder of the leaves off the trees and officially bring in ol' man winter.  It eased up around lunchtime so I decided to run a couple of errands.  I needed to get a package in the mail containing a few winter items for my girl in Houston (coat, warm slippers, and an awesome-smelling Christmas candle).  And, yes, it is also cold in Houston, Texas right now.  I entered my local department store and was greeted by I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.  Now, I certainly have nothing against that song.  In fact, I find it kind of clever, but only if you are a bit older because I certainly wouldn't want to disappoint any kid-os who believe.  But personally I didn't want to hear that song or any Christmas song while I am still burning the pumpkin candles and enjoying the fall foliage. Fall in Georgia has been glorious this year.  I would give it a 9.999 out of a ten on the Beautiful-Fall scale.  Just when I think the last few leaves are turning from bright orange to dull rust and ready to return to the earth from whence they came, I run across another 
tree that has just peaked out for my viewing pleasure.  I am not ready to let go of fall just yet.
I'm sure I've mentioned before in my ramblings about when I was growing up that no one (and I mean NO ONE) decorated for Christmas till the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I totally agree that seems a bit late even to me now, but it seems every year the retail establishments get a little quicker and a little sneakier in slipping those subliminal thoughts to us about the soon-coming holidays.  I have even been known to feel a tinge of anxiety in September that I have not yet started my Christmas shopping.  Eeeek!  But Christmas music before Thanksgiving?  Now, that's a downright sacrilege! 

I have heard more than one person say recently that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday.  I just might have to agree.  What other holiday can you eat till you practically burst open indulging in all your favorite foods and have absolutely no guilt?  Well, maybe Christmas...or even Easter... but definitely not like Thanksgiving!  Anyway, food is the highlight of the Thanksgiving holiday and thankfulness for the bounty of it all is the reason.  The first order of being thankful is to remember we live in a country where we set aside a specific day every single year to focus on this subject.  This holiday is unique to the USA and was started by our forefathers many many years ago.  We all learned about the first Thanksgiving in kindergarten class and remember dressing up like pilgrims.  To be thankful is one of life's basic human emotions and a characteristic we need to instill in our children, our grandchildren and, if we live long enough, our great grandchildren.  Thankfulness is one of the building blocks needed to develop strong children who grow into even stronger adults.  To be thankful for your blessings in life is a core ingredient in establishing a firm foundation.  I am always elated to come in contact with a child today who seems truly thankful when you give them something.  It is, I'm afraid, something parents today are just not teaching as they should be.  I also think that the "simplicity" of the Thanksgiving observance (be thankful and eat) as opposed to the materialistic factors of Christmas (give me, give me, give me) is another reason why people love Thanksgiving so much.  No worries about what gifts to buy, who to buy for, or what to do if someone doesn't like their gift.  We gather together on Thanksiving with family and friends, prepare a meal (be it ever so humble or extravagant), and count our many blessings.

Which brings me back to my point.  I do not want to be pushed into celebrating Christmas before I have given Thanksgiving its proper respect.  That is why you will never see a Christmas decoration at my house before Thanksgiving (at least on the outside and only on the inside if I am traveling and there is no other time to do it!) and I will not satiate my love for Christmas music until Thanksgiving Day has officially come to a close.  I want a proper issuing in of the Christmas season the way it was meant to be, with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade playing on the TV while the smells of Thanksgiving dinner waft from the kitchen and a line begins to form outside Toys 'r Us for all the Black Friday bargains.

And a note to dear daughter in Houston, you BETTER NOT be burning that Christmas candle until at least midnight on November 27th!
    

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