And it begins

By Chris Lundstrom

Publisher

It started about mid-September. The niggling thoughts of the upcoming holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas – it seems they have all blended into one holiday decorating, shopping and celebrating frenzy. And I love it.

By the time October 1st got here, it was in full swing. The stores were already vomiting Halloween costumes, holiday baking mixes, fall decorations, with a touch of Christmas thrown in for good measure. It was hard not to get caught up in it, so I picked up a pumpkin here and there, a couple of fall decorations and a Spiderman  costume for the grandson.

Each successive trip to retail outlets fueled the fire of excessive consumerism – a disease I seem to have been born with. Add that to the inborn need to hunt (for deals) and you have the perfect storm. A shopaholic with an excuse. 

I’ve noticed my car filling up with plastic retail bags at an alarming rate recently. With the cooler temperatures comes another inborn trait, the need to add a layer of fat to protect from the upcoming winter weather. Edna’s customary warm temperatures throughout the fall and winter seasons have normally kept this in check, but with this year’s early chill the freezer and cabinets have filled up as well. I have the urge to cook big pots of things – soups, stews, casseroles – lovely, simmering, pots of delicious yumminess that makes the house smell amazing. 

Pardon my cliché, but it is the most wonderful time of the year. By the look of my Facebook feed, I am not the only one who thinks so. As soon as Halloween was over, people were hinting about putting up their Christmas tree. Those that did almost felt the need to apologize, but quickly seemed to get over it after they were joined by other early decorators. 

There seem to be two schools of thought out there – decorate for Christmas as soon as possible to have more time to enjoy it or wait until after Thanksgiving so as to not mix the holidays.

Until this year I have been a member of the “wait” camp, but with this cold weather and a late Thanksgiving, my fingers are itching to put up some garland. I hesitate only because all of my family comes to our home for Thanksgiving and a Christmas tree and other red and green decor could mix up my grandkids. Is it Thanksgiving or Christmas? Where are the presents? 

However, to simplify my life and ease some of my stress, I think I will sneak out a few of my favorite Christmas decorations. I figure if I stick them attractively next to a turkey or two, no one will notice. Santa can be sitting in a lovely pile of gold and orange leaves. The gingerbread house can be decorated with candy corn and corn husks. I know, I know, the Christmas train can be carrying pilgrims and Indians, a show of solidarity! Hey, this could be fun! 

I must confess, I have already put up my Thanksgiving tree – a beautifully lit slim tree that is covered with glass birds, pheasants, and bunches of purple, orange and lime green feathers. Now if that doesn’t scream Thanksgiving, I don’t know what does. 

No wonder the house seems so empty and bare in January. After all the excesses of the fall holidays, everything seems to go back to what was normal. But it no longer seems normal. For you see, after all the lights, trees and seasonal tchotchkes are gone, what is left is reality, the bare bones of my everyday life, which isn’t so bad after all. For that just leaves more room for the next big after-Christmas sale. 

Oh yeah, one more thing, remember to shop locally first. These merchants are the backbone of our community and they count on our support. So go out there and shop!