happy holidays?

Hello! I hope you’re all having a wonderful Monday morning. I feel like I didn’t sleep at all last night, but I have my coffee and the promise of seeing an Atlanta friend this evening for a beer, so I’m doing pretty well.

Spencer and I got back from Georgia later than we had planned last night. He had his bachelor party on Saturday, and I got a chance to check up on all the wedding details with my mom. Getting to spend the weekly Friday “pizza night” with both parents, both siblings, and my grandfather was also a highlight of the weekend. I don’t think we’ve all been together for it in years. And that’s no exaggeration!

As I was driving home last night (designated driver to the rescue!), Spencer and I had to flip around to find a good radio station in the middle of Kentucky. This isn’t a new thing for us seeing as neither of us are huge fans of country music or evangelical radio programs, but we did stumble upon something very surprising this time around.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC! November 9th, and a station was already doing all holiday music, all the time. Now, ask anyone I know, and they’ll tell you just how much I love my holiday tunes. I have playlists full of the classics, Mannheim Steamroller, even carols sung by everyone’s favorite Disney characters. Once the turkey is carved, and I’ve gotten my Black Friday fix, you can pretty much expect me to have it on, morning to night, until New Year’s.

However, there’s one important thing I wanted to emphasize: it only happens once Thanksgiving has been fully celebrated and tied with a nice, little bow to be put on the shelf until next year. Why can’t we just celebrate one holiday at a time? Is that too much to ask?

I’m not one to judge about living in the future instead of the present. I am the ultimate planner, and I tend to forgo living in the moment by planning for the next one. But I am working on this little problem of mine, and I feel like we as a country might need to do the same.

For instance, I will be heading to DSW this year for all of my Black Friday shoe needs because, unlike every other store trying to one up the competition, it has chosen to bump back when it will open, allowing its employees to enjoy the full Thanksgiving holiday with their families. If you’re looking for similar stores, check out the article linked above. You might be surprised by some of the companies choosing to keep their doors closed, while other places are implementing an entire week or even month of “Black Friday” deals. Has anyone told them that if it’s not on the Friday after Thanksgiving it’s not actually Black Friday?

We, as Americans, get a bad rap for over commercializing holidays anyway. So maybe instead of spending Thursday and Friday in huge, hours-long lines reminiscent of scenes from The Walking Dead, we could all pledge to enjoy the time we have with family and friends. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, spend time in the kitchen together, share one more piece of pumpkin pie… and once all the plates are licked clean, then go out and save some holiday dough!

I hope you all have the chance to savor your holidays this year. I know mine will be ones that I’ll want to remember for the rest of my life!