Merry Holiday-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named!

Normally I am TOTALLY against anything Christmas before Thanksgiving. Jingle Bells is NOT appropriate for Halloween Day - no Christmas music until AFTER Thanksgiving dinner has been consumed! And I refuse to buy anything that has wreaths or snowflakes on it (including beverages and food!) in September. So keeping that in mind, I can't quite figure out what is going on with me this year. I have found myself (on more than one occasion) humming Christmas songs, mapping out Christmas shopping strategies, and looking up recipes for various holiday baked goods. What has gotten into me? We're still two weeks out from Thanksgiving! Aaah! On principle, I simply can't cave in! I've been putting some thought into it (lest I appear hypocritical), and I think I know why my Christmas sensors are hypersensitive this year: my family's Christmas plans! My parents rented a cabin near Duck Creek in Southern Utah. The whole family is going to be there, and we will stay about 1 week. We are going to cut down our own Christmas tree, make our own decorations, bake Christmas goodies, cross-country ski (me), ski/snowboard (everyone else), and generally have a pretty much idyllic Christmas. I AM SO STOKED!!!! Bring on the festivities and gingerbread men and mistletoe and wreaths and Bing Crosby version of "White Christmas"! However, despite my excitement I can't, on principle, cave into my excitement just yet. So, here's to the way over-commercialized but still fabulous and wonderful holiday that comes right after Thanksgiving!