It’s the holiday season and boy am I ready for it – Daily Leader – Dailyleader

Its time for holiday traditions to start peeking their heads out from whatever plastic storage bin or cardboard box to which theyve been relegated for the past year.

Several holidays are approaching and my family is getting ready at least mentally for all of them.

First up, theres Halloween which begins Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. I know what youre thinking. Why only a month? I agree, but Im trying to be reasonable.

My family and I love scary movies and keeping them only within the confines of 31 days is just plain wrong. But we do try to celebrate our creepy preferences by putting up a few Halloweeny decorations, watching a few scary movies together and reading a horror or suspense novel during the month.

Its also an excuse for my wife to buy peanut butter taffy wrapped in orange and black paper, the orange circus peanut candies that are the byproduct of nuclear fission, and whatever new flavor Peeps have been released (if there are any coming out this year).

Then theres Thanksgiving! For many years, my parents home was the destination for a festive family feast of ham and/or turkey, dressings, casseroles, breads, sauces, vegetables and desserts. All followed by the traditional food coma, of course.

This year will be a little different were supposed to be relocating to my sisters new house, located about 100 yards away from our parents place, through the woods. Itll be the first family gathering there, and were all looking forward to it. Though itll be a new physical spot, I dont think itll feel weird because all the same people will be there, God willing.

Thanksgiving is also an excuse for my wife to buy peanut butter taffy wrapped in orange and black paper, the orange circus peanut candies that are the byproduct of nuclear fission (and were a favorite of her dads), and whatever new flavor Peeps have been released (God help us).

Then theres Christmas! Its one of the grandest holidays, not least because it is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the physical incarnation of God with us.

Well decorate one of our half dozen Christmas trees just kidding, I know well decorate more than one of our six, or is it seven? have some get-togethers (we hope) and watch Christmas movies.

Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie. Another perennial favorite for me is Its a Wonderful Life one of my dads favorites as I grew up, it quickly became one of mine, as well, and I lost count many years ago as to how many times Ive seen it.

Christmas is also an excuse for my wife to buy peanut butter taffy though she really wishes theyd use red and green wrappers at Christmas the orange circus peanut candies that are the basement child of Styrofoam and Chernobyl, and whatever new flavor Peeps have been sent out into the world to inspire new internet videos of how to melt them.

Oh, and theres Hanukkah! I can set out my two menorahs and light the candles not because Im a Jew but because I appreciate the culture and history so much. Then later in December Ill buy up more candles for ridiculously low prices because hardly anyone ever buys them locally.

I wonder if Hanukkah has its own flavor of Peeps.

Holidays are great times to have fun. But we dont have to wait for holidays to be positive and happy. Every day is a reason to celebrate, really. I mean, weve made it this far.

Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.

Go here to read the rest:
It's the holiday season and boy am I ready for it - Daily Leader - Dailyleader

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero