Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Easter!

While I’m not fond of the cold weather, raking, or the brownish tint on golf courses everywhere, I do love many aspects of autumn. Especially Thanksgiving. This wonderful feast is a time to reflect on all of our blessings, enjoy family (or pretend to), stuff our gullets with heart-clogging delicacies, and it serves as a gateway into the magical season of Christmas. At least it used to.

When I was a child, I’d wake up at the crack of 10:30am on T-Day (I’ve never been a morning person) to watch the middle-end of the Macy’s Parade. While I was enthralled by the mindless, obviously scripted banter between the hosts – what child isn’t – nothing was more exciting than when the jolly fat man rolled in! No, not Willard Scott. Santa Claus! St. Nicholas! Father Christmas! There he sat, high above it all. The large, white-cotton-bearded man in all of his glory. With every wave of his hand, he welcomed children of all ages to come and drink in the merriment of the holiday. He ushered in the wonderment.

Then, without time for the turkey to cool, or the heartburn to dissipate, it began: the rush. Seemingly overnight, thoroughfares, malls, and Salvation Army personnel were all adorned in brilliant reds, majestic greens, and aluminum-snow white. It was the most stressful…wait, that’s now…wonderful time of the year! No more. The gateway to Christmas has grown much wider, longer, and less brilliant. In an effort to capitalize, commercialize, and desensitize everything wonderful about Christmas, Corporate America has expanded the buying season for their benefit. They were not unaided. Every person who has succumbed to the temptation to buy early has contributed to this perversion of tradition. Yes, the giant inflatable snow-globe is cool looking, but do you really need it in July?

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to be picking out your next artificial tree while shopping for your 4th of July hotdogs. What next? We’ll watch a commercial that says, "Come to our two-day, this weekend only, Valentine’s Day sale. And, while you’re at it, why wait? Christmas is around the corner. Kill two birds with one stone – may we suggest a 2 Karat stone?" We’ve all had the thought that it would be great if Christmas could be year-round, but this is ridiculous! Filet Mignon is a wonderful treat for me one or two times a year. This succulent, bacon-wrapped, au jus delight makes me drool just thinking about it. But, if I were forced to eat it every day things would be different. The first two weeks would be great, but then it wears off. It’s no longer a treat. It becomes boring and even - dare I say it - unappetizing.

"Hi, Hon, what’s for dinner?", I say hopefully when I arrive home.

"Filet."

"Of sole?", please oh please!

"No, silly, Mignon."

"Oh… please excuse me while I adjourn to the bathroom for a healthy retching."

"Certainly."

Fortunately for me, Christmas will always have a deeper meaning with no assistance from commercialism-at-large. But the traditional segue from Thanksgiving always made it more meaningful. The whole world seemed to revolve around a holiday of peace and joy. It’s funny that the Bible says the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. While there are few who exhibit even one of these in the mall’s parking-lot, this one day does seem to bring about the best in people. The more it is watered-down in gift giving, image enhancing, debt increasing, and earlier marketing every year, the more the magic dies.

Keep the magic alive. Give from the heart. Christmas is not a day, it’s an attitude of the heart. Keep the joy, the true-joy, alive for eternity.

I’m taking next week off as I engage in the grueling task of stomach stretches in preparation for the big day. Have a happy Thanksgiving. Lastly, for the sake of the nation and the children (won’t somebody please think of the children?!?) DON’T BUY ANYTHING…YET!!!