Goodbye Halloween - Hello Christmas?

Wednesday night was a wonderful, gluttonous candy grabbing bonanza that capped off more than a week of Halloween parties, birthday parties with Halloween themes, and even one baby shower that was a sugar coma inducing heaven for two adorable kids I know.

Thursday was…Christmas time?

Last night I arrived 20 minutes early for a meeting that was taking place at the South Fire Station. For a reporter, that was perfect. I could chat with some of the key players on their way into the meeting and pave the way to get their reactions after. But then it was getting awfully close to meeting time and I was still the only one standing in an otherwise empty room.

After a quick call to some people that might be able to help me find actual meeting location, I hopped into the car and headed toward the center of town. Surely any meeting that was happening would be somewhere in the center of town. Another reporter, actually, the one who unintentionally sent me in the wrong direction to begin with, called to tell me that she’d found the meeting. I was headed for the police station.

That’s when IT happened. I nearly dropped the phone. Could I really be seeing a full display of CHRISTMAS LIGHTS at the local nursery? Surely they are just taking advantage of the good weather to set up their displays, but no, there was no one else around.

I remember when it was a big deal that Santa arrived for a visit at malls on the day after Thanksgiving and that kicked off the holiday season. Sometimes he arrived by sleigh, car, helicopter, and where I grew up he even arrived in an antique truck! Nothing was lit until that magical day when Santa arrived.

Now, the ‘powers that be’ have decided that people will spend less money this year on the holiday shopping, so they are going to get people to spend earlier and longer and ugh, again it is all become about commercialism. Don’t even get me going on that topic, as it certainly isn’t a new one.

But on the day when my kids are rushing home to have a real dive into their candy bags (because the night before it was a limited dive before bed)…. let them have their joy in Halloween before rushing on to Christmas and visions of Sugar Plums – no, it’s probably visions of presents - running through their heads.

And then let us all savor Thanksgiving, which has long been one of my favorite holidays because it is so – un-commercial- and all about family, friends and sharing a meal or a day together. Thanksgiving was always the calm before the storm, but this year it might be a port in the middle of the storm instead.
Then, on the day after Thanksgiving, bring on the holiday music and light those trees and lawn decorations and enjoy a month of lights and music and food and friends and families and shopping and last minute errands, holiday cards, and catching up with old acquaintances. After Thanksgiving, bring it on!

Copyright 2007 CBLEGVOLD. All Rights Reserved.