The ghosts and goblins took to the streets last week. Halloween came and went, and here we are in November.
I was out of town last week on a university trip. We left Love Field on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and returned Saturday, Nov. 2. Christmas came to the airport while we were gone. The massive Christmas tree is standing beside the check-in desk where it is every year, and tinsel and tulle line the terminal corridors.
Other folks are following suit.
Christmas lights are popping up on houses, and the stores are full of Christmas swag.
Yes, it does seem like Christmas comes earlier every year, and this always beckons the question, how early is too early?
This is a debate that has played out in real time in recent years at the Lewter house.
I was raised in a house that did not bring out Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving. It was just an unwritten rule.
For the first decade of our marriage or so, Jennifer and I seemingly abided by the same rule. Four years ago in October, I spent the better part of a week in the hospital at Denison.
I was out of work for two weeks and got home right before Halloween. It was during the pandemic, and it was a stressful time.
A presidential election was underway then, too.
Looking back, it was probably the stress of it all that put me in the hospital.
Nonetheless, I came home that late October week to find Jennifer and the kids had already put up the Christmas tree. Decorations adorned the house, and we were well into the season— all unbeknownst to me.
She said the stress made them do it— 2020 had been a tough year. They needed a distraction. They needed to be happy. I could not argue with that.
Since then, the rules have changed. Jennifer started Christmas decorating Saturday.
She is largely in charge of the interior decorations, while I am still responsible for the outside arrangements. Even though our Christmas timeline has moved up, I have still held my ground about outside lights being turned on until after Thanksgiving.
Back in 2020, I was still a bit wobbly and weak when it was time to put lights on the house Thanksgiving weekend. One of our daughters, Isabella, 11 at the time, climbed the ladder and helped me.
We spent the day together on the roof. I showed her how the light clips work and how you must check every light bulb. Then at the end of the day, we counted the bulbs and clips we were missing and made a trip to Hobby Lobby for more supplies. She suggested a stop at Starbucks and we did that too.
A new tradition was born.
In the years since, Isabella and I have spent Thanksgiving weekend putting lights on the house, going to Hobby Lobby and stopping by Starbucks. As much as I grumble about Jennifer starting the Christmas season early, I get it.
It seems like the nation at large is starting the Christmas season earlier, and I get that too. Thanksgiving is as late as it possibly can be on the calendar this year. The 29th of November does not give much time until December starts.
Folks are stressed out. Folks are tired of a presidential election. Folks in Whitesboro are tired of drama at City Hall. Folks are just tired.
As it was for our family back in 2020, starting Christmas a little bit early alleviates that stress. I think the kids feel it, too.
Isabella asked me this week when we could put the lights on the house. I told her it would be after Thanksgiving like it is every year. Then she asked her mother.
“That is her favorite holiday tradition,” Jennifer told me. “That’s her Christmas thing to do with you.”
She’ll soon be 16. I am not sure how many more Christmas light projects we have together. I’m not sure if she’ll want to keep it up into adulthood. I’m not sure how far into middle age I’ll be able to keep it up.
So, I thought about it, and have decided the lights will be up this weekend. I encourage you to drive by when you come through town.
It’s not rushing the season if getting an early start means you have more time to enjoy it in the interim.
Merry (early) Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours.
Source: Freepik.com