Simon's First Thanksgiving

For me, Thanksgiving used to mean time off from work and drinking with friends who were back in town. Wednesday became Friday, and after a short workweek we’d storm the bars and get all rosy and stupid. Ah the good old days. The next morning I’d stumble out of bed around ten with a taste for turkey and football, after which I'd relapse into a coma on the couch as the game grinded out in the background.

But now.

But now there is none of that. And that is fine. I don’t miss it, really I don’t. I miss my paychecks when they were mine and not the baby’s, but not the revelry of my youth. These days the craziest I like to get is when my wife and I sneak to the kitchen and enjoy one, maybe two beers on a Friday night. Whoo! hoo! Shhhhh!

This Thanksgiving was spent with my Dad and stepmother. They’ve been in Texas for over twenty years so it had been a while since we’d sliced up a turkey together. And it was great.  We ate and laughed and made merry.   But what I’ll remember the most about this time—and I know how corny this would sound to younger and much cooler me—was my little family. The television remained off for most of the break, (The iron bowl instant classic notwithstanding. What a classic, I couldn’t believe the ending. And Bama finally lost! I’ve never seen—Oh, this isn’t about college football, sorry), and I missed all of this Amazon drone business.  But it was well worth it as I rolled around on the floor, read books (sort of, I read he swats the pages), and just enjoyed the downtime. I also got really used to sleeping in until after 7 for 5 straight days.

I did manage to get the Christmas lights up, with some minor setbacks. I climbed up the giant Crepe Myrtle tree, a string of colored lights in hand, when the ladder shot out and I was left dangling all Griswald style until I could climb down. You’re welcome neighbors.

I think Simon enjoyed his first Thanksgiving, he did a lot of squealing and we discovered that he loves Fig Newtons. I mean he really loves Fig Newtons. Just opening the cabinet causes his eyes to widen and he starts giggling like a Toronto Mayor at a flophouse. It’s fun to watch him try new things, shuddering at peas and geeking out with figs are just a couple of things that make my day.

So here's to change and trying new things.  Buty most of all, to Fig Newtons...

My Vacation...

I’m typing this while lounging in my pajamas at 8:45 on a Tuesday morning. I feel a hint of remorse for my wife, she has just left the house after a frantic early morning ritual of getting ready for work.   I woke up to her racket, crawling out of bed to find her rushing through her morning routine, debating which maternity shirt looked less like pajamas while hiking up the elastic waistband of her jeans.  Before my eyes had fully adjusted, she hurried off to school, leaving the house quiet and tranquil in her absence.   

As for me, I’m not sure when I’ll get dressed to actually begin my day.  At some point I will need to walk the dogs, but they seem completely content as of now, curled up sleeping peacefully in the quiet house.  After my wife left, I poured a bowl of cheerios, wearing an old pair of jogging pants and a wrinkled long sleeved shirt, running a hand through my unkempt hair.  So goes my life this week...

Due to the pregnancy, we have cancelled a trip to Jamaica along with the drive north to upstate New York for Christmas.  This left me with some unused vacation, and leaves me here, using up vacation days on this week of Thanksgiving, lounging around the house while writing blog posts and watching MadMen reruns in between jaunts with the dogs.  Yesterday, I piddled around the yard with the rake, but then I remembered.  I’m on vacation!  As an expectant father I had better enjoy this me time while I can.

I would like to say I could get used to this, but I’m already starting to—I can’t believe I’m typing this, miss work.  Not enough to go in on my own time mind you, but I miss the structure of my day.  I’m not sure I could stay home full time, not that it’s an option.  I'm sure a baby would keep me busy, but---oh, it looks like one of the dogs just woke up, time for a walk!  Life is tough for a stay at home dad...

Too Much Christmas?

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It seems no sooner than when Halloween ends, the deluge of Christmas decorations hit the stores.  The music begins, the commercials hit the airwaves, and pretty soon, we’re staring at two months of Christmas cheer directly in the face.

Black Friday has now been pushed to late Thursday.  Before we even finish our leftovers it's time to get a jump on the crowds for that fourth 46 inch television for the kitchen! 

So when is it time to begin the Holiday season?

My wife and I have been back and forth on this debate for the better part of the week.  In an ideal world, I would begin decorating for Christmas somewhere between December 1st and 10^th.  That gives everyone a little time to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  My wife was ready to decorate last weekend.  I was able to hold her off, but it looks like my Friday after Thanksgiving will be filled with the task of untangling hastily put away Christmas lights in the attic.

The other part of this debate is when to take our decorations down.  I’m a day after Christmas kind of guy.  The tree is dead, the garland has lost its luster, and I’m ready to start fresh for the new year.  My wife however, would leave everything up well into the first week of January.  Just typing that sentence makes me cringe.  Our compromise?  New Years Day, I will celebrate by taking everything down.  You can imagine how I feel about people who leave their Christmas lights up all year.

I suppose I’m sort of an after Christmas Grinch.  Fine by me.  Once it’s over, I have no use for red bows, garland, messy trees, not to mention my electric bill from powering all of those lights in the yard. 

I remember this same debate when I was a child.  My father was ready to take everything down on Christmas day, while my stepmother, if she had her way, would leave the tree carcass up until Easter.  New Year’s day would come along and my dad would be itching at the chance to start yanking decorations off of the brittle tree limbs.  Usually by January 2nd, it was go time, my stepmother would relent and my father and I would have the tree stripped, removed, and out on the lawn in under 10 minutes.  She would stand by, arms crossed while making sure nothing was broken, shaking her head at the two of us working diligently together. It was an art form.

Whatever your customs, I think we can all agree that two months of Christmas is ridiculous.  We already have Christmas in July, before black Friday sales, after Christmas sales, get a jump on next Christmas sales, It’s never too early to think about Xmas 2014 sales etc.  Christmas is a great time of year, everyone’s a little cheerier,kids are excited, and it’s a great time for charity.  I love Christmas, there’s nothing like it….in DECEMBER.