thanks for the memories

Rather than complain about how the Christmas season now starts the day after Halloween, I would like to propose that we re-emphasize Thanksgiving. Everybody loves Thanksgiving. There's no reason why America's best holiday should be steamrolled by the Christmas marketing machine.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I wish that it continued into January instead of being thrown to the curb on December 26. But our premature celebration of it overshadows the great Thanksgiving.

Let's get excited about the new balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (although we need to talk about "Healthy Mr. Potato Head"). Let's send silly disco turkey e-cards to each other. Let's watch the Thanksgiving themed shows on Food Network. Let's remember the "First Thanksgiving" school play. Let's display a cornucopia and other Thanksgiving decorations. And let's not forget good old Charlie Brown.

How many other holidays come with a built-in four day weekend? Every few years Christmas and Independence Day fall on the right day of the week but Thanksgiving is there for us every year. Christmas can wait. Thanksgiving time is here.