By Christina Abt
Buffalo, NY – I'm here today to talk about a problem I'm having. Or perhaps I should term it a complaint. But then again, it's really more of a holiday scheduling issue. But whatever, the point is I need to speak to powers that be in charge of the calendar and I'm not really sure how to find them. So I decided to take to the airwaves in hopes of finding a resolution. Here's my issue.
In setting up the calendar, there is just no way that Thanksgiving should be allowed to fall only two days before the month of ho-ho-ho- peace to all mankind and joy to the world. Because as someone who decorates for every holiday including groundhog's day I'm here to tell you that two days is just not enough turn around time.
I came to this conclusion last week as my turkey, mashed potato, stuffing, gravy, pumpkin, pecan, apple, pie, laden family went waddling out my back door. As they departed they cheerfully reminded me that in a short three days they would be breezing back across my threshold for our annual Christmas Cookie Party. Panicked, I realized that meant that I had exactly seventy-two hours to switch decorative gears from a Thanksgiving Food Fest into a Christmas Wonderland, Hohoho.
Now I realize that holidays such as Thanksgiving are precisely set in the calendar, dependant upon the cycle of the moon and the first Tuesday following the second Monday after the last piece of Halloween candy has been devoured. However, there are times when practicality should, and must, overrule such guidelines. I feel that this is one of those moments.
I know I'm not the only one who has a problem with this shortened holiday transition time. Every newscast I hear and paper I read has a story about the seven less available days of consumer shopping. And while I haven't spoken directly to the jolly old elf himself, I'm sure Santa is none too happy about his tightened "Put it under the tree for me" deadline!
But mostly, I am concerned about the legions of decorating disciples, like myself, who feel it just isn't Christmas without all the tinsel, lights, garlands, poinsettias, wreaths, stockings, and other chachkey "stuff" that we schlep down from the attic or up from the basement and string from one end of the house to the other each and every year. What we do is an artform as well as a holiday public service. It takes time to put each little ceramic Santa in just the right place and as any artists, we should not be rushed.
So I would like to propose to the calendar powers that be, that from this day forth, the celebration of Thanksgiving be permanently positioned as the third Thursday of November, thereby ensuring a full week between turkey and tinsel. It may seem like a inconsequential matter to many, but to those of us who ended up exhaustedly prostrate on the dining room floor Thanksgiving night, buried under a holiday d cor avalanche of pumpkins, leaves, tinsel and garlands, this is a life threatening issue.
At least, that's what I think my husband meant when I woke him at three in the morning and asked if he would help me string lights on the Christmas tree.
Happy Holidays to all!
Commentator Christina Abt is a free lance writer from Eden. Her "Heart and Soul" essays are a monthly feature of WBFO News.