Thanksgiving First

Somewhere in edit land I have the beginnings of some long rambling post about this, but I just read it and I have NO idea where I was going with it, so I'm just starting over.

I just saw a Kmart commercial that was proclaiming that they were "saving Christmas!!" And how were they doing this? By being open all day long on Thanksgiving. Nice!

Okay, I broke out the decorations a bit early this year, but I had a good reason. On the whole, however, I wish people would just slow down. I don't have particularly religious reasons for it or anything. I just remember the holiday season as being a magical time, and it isn't anymore. Yeah, some of it is undoubtedly that I was a child and didn't have anywhere the same stresses or pressures but I think a lot of it is that Christmas has just gotten diluted.

Human nature being what it is, the more you can have something, the less special it becomes. I'm already sick of carols because they've been playing in our stores for more than 2 weeks. I don't want to be assaulted by red and green lights and bells and trees and sound when I walk into a store at Halloween. I resent having to root through santa hats to find stuff for "Talk Like A Pirate" day. (Okay, exaggeration. But only just.)

Maybe I'm just being a grouch, but by the time Christmas eve rolls around anymore, I'm just ready for it to be over and I think that's just tragic. Please, folks, give Thanksgiving time before the Christmas season comes roaring in to take over.

Also, I like Thanksgiving. I like the idea that at least once a year, we specifically set aside time to look at how lucky we are. Every now and then, it occurs to me just how truly blessed I am to be me. I live in one of the few countries in the world where I, as a woman, am free to be whatever I want to be and I'm happy to be when I am too. The technology, the medical care, the education, the sheer knowledge - it's a good time to be here. My parents, after 40+ years, not only still like each other, they still chase each other around the kitchen. I've never seriously wanted for anything, and I am very aware that as a college educated individual, I'm more fortunate than most of the rest of the world. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, sometimes that gets... not forgotten exactly, or taken for granted, but set to the side, to be noticed later. So I'm glad that we've made it a holiday to give thanks, to whomever may be listening.

I'm not into the current attitude about it either. Stuffing ourselves stupid and then collapsing in front of football is not wrong, but it isn't the point either. Take a moment to appreciate how very lucky you are to be you, living where and when you are. And put Thanksgiving First.