November 28, 2007

When Did Thanksgiving Become All About Christmas?

Let me see if I have this right. For the last month, commercials have shown families dressed in their finest, gathered around the Thanksgiving table in front of a fireplace. They used some variation of this theme to sell everything from furniture to the Thanksgiving meal. I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone who dresses up for Thanksgiving dinner. If I told Hubby he had to wear a suit on his day off and the girls that they had to wear a dress, I'm afraid the howls of protest would be heard across the plains of Texas. I wonder how many real people dress up for Thanksgiving dinner. And how many homes have a fireplace in the dining room? Probably those homes where people enjoy dressing up for dinner. They must enjoy it, in every single commercial, everyone was smiling. Well anyway.... there are these commercials sandwiched between all the Christmas commercials, and it seems like the idea is that families spend the day together on Thanksgiving.

However, so many stores opened at 6am Thanksgiving Day, and others at 1am Friday that people started lining up for the "limited specials" Wednesday afternoon and spent all Thanksgiving day waiting in line for the door to open. I don't get it. Why would people give up time with their family to spend it standing in line for a Christmas bargain sale when it might even be gone before they got in the door? That's a rhetorical question, no answer needed.

Next, the big box stores will convince the public that we should be eating spaghetti instead of roasted turkey and more food and desserts than we should eat in a week. Actually, I could go along with that idea. All I did yesterday was cook and then clean up.

Until next time, may you have blessings and great turkey leftovers,
Marti

November 19, 2007

Sad Weekend

Hubby's Uncle Don died last week of a sudden and unexpected aneurysm. The funeral was Saturday and we drove up to Oklahoma, picking up Hubby's brother and family on the way. Uncle Don was one in a million and will leave a big hole in our lives. He had had constant back pain since I met him 32 years ago, but was always cheerful and ready to help someone in need.

They did something at the funeral I thought was really special. The minister asked the family members to write a memory of Don and he read it during the service. And Don's oldest daughter sang a song. I had no idea she could sing, and for her to hold her composure was just amazing.

Until next time, may you have blessings and family joy,
Marti

November 12, 2007

Fall Visitors


All day, this little guy/gal and friend have been in the tree outside my door. I hope they stick around, they are prettier than the usual mourning doves that visit our pond.
They look cold, but it's warm outside.

Until next time, may you have blessings and simple joys,

Marti