David Long’s Blog

The process has started.  

• Outside lights are done – I had to do those early because of the weather forecast.  And of course, because the bushes are bigger and some strings failed, I need to get some more lights to really finish it up.  But it is functional and it does look nice.
• Wreaths are up in all the windows.  Easier this year because we’ve rearranged the furniture in two of the rooms.
• The big tree is up and lights are on.  Diane will hang the ornaments – she has a much better eye for that than I do.
• Boxes have been lugged out of the attic – my least favorite job.  This year, we went thru the boxes with Allison so she’d have Christmas decorations for her apartment also.  

So now the transformation begins.

• Almost every room in the house undergoes the change.  The “normal everyday” stuff gets put away – usually in the Christmas boxes and back in the attic.  
• Furniture has been rearranged to make room for the Christmas tree.
• Holiday towels take the place of regular towels – fingertip towels in the bathroom and dishtowels in the kitchen
• Welcome mats replaced with the holiday mats.
• Banister will soon have garland wrapped around it.
• Move all of the Christmas CDs and DVDs to the front of the cabinets
• Smaller Christmas trees placed around the house – lighted of course.
• Stockings and stocking holders on the mantle.

Sounds like a lot of work?  You bet it is!

Is it worth it?  You bet it is!

What do you think of when you hear Thanksgiving?  For a lot of us in the US, it’s a day dedicated to overeating, napping, football, family and friends.  OK – at least that’s my vision of Thanksgiving.  Maybe the Macy’s Day Parade?  Or for some, it’s all about the strategic planning sessions on how to best tackle Black Friday.

But it’s also a day dedicated to giving thanks.  Regardless of your religious beliefs, your political positions, your race, your sex, your age – we do have a lot to be thankful for.  Thankful for our family and friends.  Thankful for ALL of the food we have.  Thankful for our health – good or bad, we’re still toughing it out.  Thankful for our jobs, like ‘em or not.  Thankful for all of our “stuff” (homes, cars, computers, gadgets, clothes, etc).

You may not think so, but you do.  Odds are, there is someone out there having more problems than you are right now.  Actually, if you’ve got the tools and technology to be reading this, you’re way ahead of the curve.  There are more than a billion people who don’t have clean drinking water.  2.6 billion people don’t have basic sanitation.  Over 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day (a grande latte at Starbucks is more than that).   According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty.

I’m not being preachy here, just realistic.  To be honest, I’m doing some self-talk, because I too often forget these facts.  It’s too easy for me to think about what I don’t have instead of what I do.  I grumble about work.  I grumble about traffic.  I grumble about the fussy kid in the pew in front of me when I’m at church.  I grumble about the people with 11 items in the 10 or less lane.  Grumble, grumble, grumble.  But I never have to worry about not having food or clean water.  I never have to worry about sanitation.  I never have to worry about not having clothes to protect me from the elements.

So take a break from today’s festivities, find some quiet time and take a few moments to give thanks for everything you’ve got.  And while you’re at it, let’s all take those few moments each and every day to give thanks.  That’s the first step…..many more to follow!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!