Holiday Spirit

I was wondering how many people out there are already in the mood for the holidays. On the 1st of November, one of the radio stations I listen to started playing Christmas music. (fulltime, 24/7) I can’t decide whether I like that or not. I’ve heard people say, and I think I’ve said it myself, that “they” start bringing out the holiday decorations earlier every year. Although I can’t imagine it getting too much earlier than this. But, on the other hand, I know some people who are completely done with their holiday shopping, and I am envious, because I’m just not in the mood for it yet. I have to be in the right frame of mind to go Christmas shopping.

I was thinking about that this morning as we are preparing to head to my sister’s house for a holiday meal that we call Thanksgiving even though the “real” one is still two and a half weeks away. It has a lot of benefits – we can arrange the holiday at a time when it fits with all of our schedules. Also, since we live a ways away from each other, it’s nice to do the holiday on a weekend when everyone doesn’t have to travel both ways in one day. And we get to have more than one big meal, since we also do a big meal on the actual day itself. The strange thing is, when we all walk in the door, and start standing around in the kitchen talking (because that always seems to be the gathering place) and the kids start running around, it’s going to feel like Thanksgiving. Seems like it turns out that it’s not the number on the calendar that makes the day after all…it’s the people and the turkey with all the trimmings, and the football, and following all those family traditions from years gone past, like telling all the same old stories, and laughing over the same childhood memories. So Happy Thanksgiving (Part I) everyone!!