Bill Dunn, my “newest best friend” (as he puts it), writes a weekly column for a publication out in Connecticut. Each week we share our writings, critique each other, and quietly grouse, “Man, that was pretty good stuff — wish I had thought of it first.”

This past week, Bill wrote a piece about Thanksgiving and how it has ceased to be a “standalone” holiday, and has become the official start of the “Christmas Shopping Season.” I messaged back my agreement with his premise and added my two cents worth, which won’t even buy one sweet gherkin off the Thanksgiving relish tray.

The next day was Thanksgiving and we had our celebration. It started out as a very small and simple gathering of six relatively hungry people that constituted a mixed NFL fan base spread between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. It was a good thing that I had plenty of blessings to be thankful for because my beloved Bears lost (AGAIN!).

After dinner had been devoured, the Bears had lost to the Lions, and the tryptophan had started to kick in, four of my kids (and kids-in-law) came by. They all had dinner commitments with other folks and it has never made sense to me for anyone to feel obligated to eat seven full turkey dinners in one day. I am happy for them to go ahead and eat someone else’s food, then stop by and laugh and carry on with me — which is just what we did, until my face hurt from laughing.

The next day, my wife’s grandparents stopped by and spent a fun couple of days before heading off on their way to Arizona for the winter. They are great people; salt of the earth types. Pops always makes me laugh and anyone that can do that is always welcome in my home.

This got me to thinking. Sorry Bill, but I changed my mind. I am glad Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. I have grown to the point where I really don’t care which holidays you celebrate. At this time of year, I am a fan of proudly wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas.”

However, if you and yours would like to wish me a Happy Hanukah, or Yuletide, or Kwanza, or Bodhi Day, or Pancha Ganapatil, or Saturnalia, or Modraniht, or Festivus, or even Newtonmas, please do. I would be pleased and honored to be included in your thoughts as you celebrate.

This is the best time of the year. Is it over commercialized? You bet. Is it full of hustle and bustle and scurrying from one event to the next? Absolutely. Folks can choose to look at these aspects and criticize what this time of year has become, or they can take a second look and marvel at what this time of year has become.

We no longer have a single holiday, taking up a single day, to celebrate. We have days, and weeks, and actually months of celebration. People are smiling, wishing each other good cheer and good tidings, getting together for hot chocolate and hot toddies, singing, laughing and sharing good memories while making new ones. People have found ways to make the darkest days of winter come alive with festivity, excitement and lots of hugs (I really like this last part).

Please celebrate with me this holiday season as we travel together from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving — when many people take the day off from work to travel over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house — all the way until the last of the great midwinter holidays on Jan. 17th.

What holiday is on Jan. 17th? That is my birthday — a very fitting end to a joyous season of good cheer, good times and good humor.

Please allow me to be the first to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

 

Larry Wilson is a mostly lifelong resident of Niles. His optimistic “glass full to overflowing” view of life shapes his writing. His essays stem from experiences, compilations and recollections from friends and family. Wilson touts himself as “a dubiously licensed teller of tall tales, sworn to uphold the precept of ‘It’s my story; that’s the way I’m telling it.’” He can be reached at wflw@hotmail.com.