A Holiday from Cooking

The day after Thanksgiving I am grateful for leftovers. While most of America seems to be standing in line at 3 a.m. on Black Friday, Jeff and I are sound asleep, tucked snugly under our covers, because we don't shop on the biggest shopping day of the year. I know, we're missing all the good sales, but we discovered long ago that we seldom want to buy those door buster items that are only available to the first 50 people who have been camping out for a week. In addition, this year we have been inundated with coupons (paper and electronic) touting great sale prices before and after the big day. (As a matter of fact, one store honored its Black Friday sale price when were picking up our son's gift last Monday evening.)

So, the $64,000 question is if we're not out shopping, why can't I cook on the day after Thanksgiving? As tempting as it might be to go on strike after all the holiday preparations, that's not what happens either. On Black Friday the three of us spring from our beds and begin pulling Christmas decorations galore out of storage. By the time the day is over, it looks like Santa lives here (even though there won't be snow). We have two 7.5 foot Christmas trees crammed with ornaments, multiple wreaths bedecking the front door and several interior doors as well, a large nutcracker collection to put on display, a few centerpieces, more table linens than I'll ever use, three advent calendars, ceramic figurines, and doodads hanging from every handle and light fixture in sight. We even have a couple of holiday projects the boy created in grade school that find a home on our coffee table every Christmas. Of course, once the inside is done, we have to move outdoors as well, stringing lights along the roof line, adding silk poinsettias to baskets on the porch, changing out banners, chair covers, and door mats.  Luckily, as the boy has grown he becomes better at fluffing tree branches and adding lights, garland, and ornaments (especially at the top where I can't reach). This year, he even took on the job of putting up the outside lights on his own, much to Jeff's delight.

You're probably wondering about the excessive amount of glitz that takes over our home. Most people don't believe I'm capable of this kind of over-indulgence until they see it for themselves. ("She's so practical and level headed," my friends often say. "She's just not the type to go overboard.") In truth, the hoopla serves several purposes. First it puts me in the Christmas spirit, even when it's 70 degrees and sunny outside. It also allows my to begin counting the days to our annual trek homeward. Next, it turns the house upside down for awhile making everything seem new again when we put the "normal" decor back out on January first. Most importantly, though, it reminds me of the magical transformation that used to occur at Christmas. When I was a kid, stores didn't play Christmas carols, suspend garland from the ceiling, or put up a single ornament until Thanksgiving. I can remember thinking the entire world became glittery and beautiful over night. This miracle of suddenly having Christmas was just as impressive as Santa's mysterious trip on December 24. Thus, as stores begin hawking their holiday wares long before Halloween, we have made it our tradition to transform our home in one fell swoop the day after Thanksgiving. So, in our little corner of the world tonight, suddenly it's Christmas!