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Show 1 " I It's beginning to look a lot like ... Thursday is Thanksgiving (how's that for a news flash) and I have found something new to be thankful for this year. Crossroads Plaza. Now before you jump to conclusions about my ability with plastic cards let me explain it has nothing to do. per say, with the shops and their wares. Rather it is a small sign I spied in their main lobby. It read: "We believe in tradition. Our Christmas decorations will go up tiie day after Thanksgiving I am a moderately religious person.., certainly no fanatic, but as I read the sign, I'm certain I heard choirs of angels and archangels singing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" Hallelu-jah!" It's a little thing I know, but perhaps it could start a trend. People could actually finish burping their Thanksgiving, turkey before they were assaulted with the holiday, sales pitch. Locally, this trend has not caught on. Monday, city workers were (dare I say it?) busy as little elves putting up the lights on Main Street. And the old Alpha Beta put up the plastic trees as soon as they cleared away the Halloween candy. Even the Post Office warns us "not to get caught in the herd" and mail early for Christmas. Now I know this may sound a bit. "Bah. Humbug," but please understand 1 would probably like Christmas more than your average five year old. It is w ithout a doubt my most favorite of holidays. I just like it best in December. My children have learned this. They are most merciful in not makingtheir unrealisitc demands upon me until after we clear the table on Thanksgiving. For that I am thankful and grateful. Soon enough, the magic spirit of the season will be flowing from their innocent lips "But all my friends have home computers already. And snowmobiles. And season tickets to the Eagles games. And that's all I'm asking for. I won't ask for another thing." Ah. the holiday spirit. Soon enough the quandry begins again. Another sweater for Aunt- Tillie or a subscription to Penthouse. Pleasing relatives relat-ives is such a task. I can . remember sending " my mother a print from our own Kimball Art Center last season and her gratitude was underwhelming. "Such a lovely copy of the original work your thoughtful : sister purchased for me last year." Ugh!. This year she will receive original art vork: from her 'grandchildren and a copy of the original recipe for Toll House cookies, ;; . ; You "see. it's happened. My attempt to ' keep Christmas in December has-forced me to start mumbling incoherently " before turkey day. I know just what to do. I'll shop for my turkey tomorrow with a paper sack '.. over my head and avoid the aisle with the plastic Santas. I will shut off the television the moment the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade starts (I'll explain network difficulties difficul-ties to my children) and we will try hard to tell tales of pilgrims and sharing and giving. We will perhaps compose original Pilgrim carols, scratch that. I mean songs. We will try very, very hard to remember all things we are thankful for before we begin asking for a whole list of new ones. Have I gotten stuffing in my ears, dear reader, or does some of this strike a vein with you, too? I will be thankful this year for all of life's gifts." but mostly for the wisdom of the merchants at Crossroads Plaza. Hallelujah! |
