BY KYLE LOVERN
I don’t know about you, but it upsets me to see Christmas decorations displayed in August in most department stores.
Before you can even purchase your Halloween candy, they are putting much of it away and restocking the shelves with Christmas candy, red and green bows and wrapping paper.
Television commercials have already been airing “Black Friday” pre-Christmas sales.
It seems that certain entities forget about Thanksgiving. As far as I’m concerned, it is indeed the forgotten holiday.
I loved Halloween and Trick-or-Treat as a kid. I still do as an adult. Of course, I love Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Lord.
But between those two holidays is Thanksgiving.
The forgotten holiday must be because people are in such a hurry these days. In a rush to get ready for Christmas, they seem to skip right over Thanksgiving. I, for one, love the Thanksgiving Day meal and holiday and what it represents to share that time with family and friends.
Sometimes I just think that November gets the shaft of the holiday season. It is the end of autumn when the leaves have fallen and the weather gets dreary and colder. Many look right past that fourth Thursday of November and start thinking of Christmas.
They put up their Christmas trees and outdoor decorations as soon as Halloween is over.
Every year, as Thanksgiving approaches, there seems to be less and less talk or planning for the holiday. Families don’t get together like they used to for a big dinner, socializing and watching those turkey day football games.
Many are just thinking about those Black Friday sales. There are few signs of Thanksgiving except the frozen turkeys and other trimmings stocked at the grocery stores.
I guess much of this thought process is driven by the large retailers striving to make their big yearly profit in the last quarter of the year. Naturally, sales and profits go up as families buy toys, electronics and the latest fashions and other items for Christmas. They all want to be sure to get a piece of the pie, and it’s not pumpkin or pecan – it’s all those millions of dollars spent.
I remember when many didn’t put up their Christmas tree until a week or maybe two before the holiday. Now you will literally see people putting up their holiday decorations the day after Halloween (and there may be some that even decorate before).
The Thanksgiving holiday, squeezed between Halloween and Christmas, occurs without any fanfare.
I know I’m sentimental. I will be the first to admit that. As a kid I recall my mom getting up early to start preparing the Thanksgiving meal. I remember the incredible smells coming from the kitchen. My mom rose early that morning to start preparing the traditional feast for the family. There was turkey to be roasted, dressing to be made from the bread and cornbread, various dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls and homemade desserts. Everything was made with love and from scratch.
Kids would enjoy those days off from school, the long weekend and going outside to play, weather permitting.
Over the years, I’ve taken over the task of cooking the Thanksgiving meal. I’m not a bad cook if I say so myself. I may not make everything from scratch like mom did, but those who come for dinner are not usually disappointed.
Now that my family has grown and spread out, it is more difficult for us to get together with the kids and grandchildren. This makes me sad, but it’s a part of life. However, I will still fix that great meal even if it’s just for me, my wife Vicki and, of course, our pup dog Pete.
I guess it helps bring back those memories of growing up and watching my mom prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. Like most of us, I thought my mom was the best cook in the world.
I hate to see the November holiday go by the wayside. Times have changed – but not for me.
We’ll have a great Thanksgiving meal with leftovers for a couple of days. Then we can start thinking about Christmas.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist.)