I love traditions. They’re so traditional.
They’re a large part of what makes this time of year feel familiar.
‘Familiar’ a top 4 human need, along with a comfortable chair and whole cranberries, occupying Need spaces 2-4.
We love knowing what to expect, anticipating what’s happening to and around us, or beating GA Tech.
Or GA, depending upon how your loyalties lie.
(Fill in the name of the school whose ass you would like kicked, this weekend a big time for that sort of thing).
Sports rooting a top 5 human need. And based on all the advertising and uniform logos, betting comes in number 6.
Thanksgiving begins the time cycle of knowing what to expect, when.
Beginning with the turkey holiday routine:
When do you put the turkey in the oven, which determines when you eat.
Do you call it stuffing or dressing? Alternate the terms? Do you put odd things like artichokes in your dressing/stuffing? I’m guessing most make it the same way every year – that bag can be tough to open…
Do you still make turnips – despite the fact Aunt Millie ain’t here anymore and she was the only one who ate them.
Do you day-drink on TG? How long are the post (and/or pre) dinner naps? Do you take a walk after eating?
Do you ever really watch the Lions game? Unless you’ve got an over/under bet going…
I’m guessing your day roughly the same every year, familiarity part of why you look forward to this holiday. That, the day drinking and huge meal.
But in full disclosure – or partial, I still have secrets – we debated going to a restaurant this year. I’m heading to confession after I finish this post.
Once Tom is digested, the kitchen cleaned and the 3rd NFL game – When did they add that? – slept through, on to the Christmas season.
Or if you’re like the rest of the country, you’re already a couple of weeks into the decorations and celebration.
Do you get your tree the day after TG? When do you take it down (sorry to jump ahead, but it’s a potentially divisive subject you need to be prepared for). Is it real or artificial?
As an aside, a real tree is human need #9. IPAs are #7, and Beers at the Nifty ‘Saturday Christmas Classics’ #8. Wasn’t ‘Selfless’ great?
But the Christmas season jam packed with familiar milestones, part of why we look forward to it. That, and the gifts and infrequent day drinking.
And Christmas way more full of traditional stuff than TG:
The pillows, dishes, coffee cups – decorations! – all pulled from the attic for their month of use. A tough amortization, that.
The music, playlists abounding on Spotify. So much of it horrible – if it were any good, wouldn’t we listen year-round? But maybe Charlie Brown’s Christmas… Or BB King’s ‘A Christmas Celebration’.
The baked goods. If your spouse were My Captor, you’d be nodding along. That woman can bake! Her Everything Cookie Human Need #9. (I know, there already was a # 9 – a Beatles homage?).
The gifts. Finding the right – nay, the perfect – gift, for your spouse, human need #10.
Not finding the right gift, possibly Human Need #10B, requiring medical intervention.
But gifts the ultimate Human Good and Bad:
The good – When chosen correctly, spotlighting generosity and love, the gift fitting the recipient.
The bad – the annual mis-assumption gifts are the ‘reason for the season’, forgetting that celebrating with family and friends in honor of Jesus’ birth, Human Need #1.
ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER READING’:
What a great Christmas gift idea: I have two – yes, two – books available:
QUEENIE AND PA: ADVENTURES IN GRANDPARENTING… And Other Topics
BEERS AT THE NIFTY 2024
Available on Amazon! Order today, laughing by Tuesday! Only 1.8 cents per laugh! Your recipient will love you for it!