How I Came to Appreciate Thanksgiving More Than Christmas

Best. Turkey Day Movie. Ever.

I realize this blog may come across as “Bah, humbug,” especially if you love Christmas, but, as the kids say, share your truth, and since I have a blog, and Thanksgiving is once again upon us, a truthing I shall do. I used to love Christmas. I remember staying up all night wearing a Santa hat feverishly anticipating what goodies Kris Kringle would shove down my chimney, while also wondering how kids in apartments who didn’t own chimneys received gifts from Jolly Old Saint Nick. When it came to Thanksgiving, however, I used to shrug my shoulders and say, “Meh,” even before that phrase was coined by Lisa Simpson on a seminal episode of The Simpsons to describe how being a Gen-Xer feels. (This may not be the canonical view of how the word was first used, but it’s certainly the first time I heard it.) In fact, one year, when my Mom asked if I was excited about it almost being Thanksgiving, I caustically quipped, “Eh, Thanksgiving is just the appetizer to Christmas.” I’m still unsure whether the food-related pun was intended.

That’s not how I view these two holidays at all anymore. As a parent who no longer believes in Mr. Claus (sorry, kids), I’m now more than aware of just how much work Christmas is, which brings me to my first point:

When You’re a Parent, Christmas Is a TON of Work

If it’s the Christmas season, here’s a short list of must-do items: gift buying, card writing, gift wrapping, tree trimming, gift hiding, etc. (Are you sensing a pattern here?) Even disregarding the enormous financial cost of Christmas, the monumental time and energy it takes to get through it every year are downright mind-blowing. Then there’s that damn Elf on the Shelf, something that didn’t even exist when I was a child. Now every morning I have to move this guy around the house into different, wacky situations that will amuse my kids. (Uh-oh! He’s gotten into the kitchen cabinet!) Trust me; I have a small house, and there are only so many inspired scenes I can create with this felt elf. After a week, I’m drained. And I haven’t even mentioned decorating your house with twinkling lights. This alone takes me all day, even with the help of my father, who, at his advanced age, really shouldn’t be doing it anymore, but he’s the handyman of the family while I can barely screw in a lightbulb. Just watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation for a primer of how insane this holiday has gotten (and it’s only gotten worse in the intervening 34 years since the movie was released). There’s a reason why it’s become a classic over the decades; it’s because of how unfortunately relatable it is, and it’s nice to laugh at poor Clark Griswold’s troubles for once instead of crying at your own.

Having listed all these time-consuming and money-sapping activities for Xmess, what do you have to do for Thanksgiving? Cook a meal. That’s it. And I don’t even do that, as I’m usually invited somewhere. (Thanks, cousins!) The only extra thing I do this holiday is watch the movie Planes, Trains & Automobiles, which brings me to my next point.

The Joy of Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Watching John Hughes’ classic Planes, Trains & Automobiles is my annual tradition every late November. It’s amazing to me that the prolific writer-director released this movie only a year after his equally brilliant Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. (It’s almost as impressive as how Mel Brooks released both Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein in 1974.) With each viewing, I’ve come to love the movie even more, if that’s possible. Of course it’s hilarious; that much is obvious upon your first watch, but I’ve come to embrace its deeper message the more I see it. I love how ironic it is that Neal Page, played with perfect nervous comic energy by Steve Martin, has it all—the gorgeous house and wife, beautiful kids, a well-paying job—but he’s more or less miserable (or at least incredibly uptight and unappreciative of his life). Then there’s Del Griffith, played with warmth and humor by the never better John Candy. This man embraces life with all its ups and downs, even explaining to Neal that he simply “goes with the flow, like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.” Del more or less loves life, but then we find out… Well, I don’t want to give away the ending, just in case there’s one soul out there who still hasn’t seen this comedic masterpiece, but it makes you appreciate what you have, which brings me to my last point. (Side note: I love the fact that the movie starts off in New York City on Park Avenue, the very block I used to work before working from home.)

The Meaning of the Season

I’m ashamed to admit just how long it took me to figure out the word “Thanks” is in the holiday name “Thanksgiving.” Sure, I was still a kid, but c’mon; it’s the very first syllable! Abraham Lincoln was right, lo those many years ago, to declare the fourth Thursday in November a day for giving thanks, because we really do have a lot to be thankful for, not just for the strong, (mostly) prosperous nation we’re lucky to live in but for the daily goings-on in our own lives. Without divulging too many details, this year I was scammed out of half my life savings. We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars here. (This may be fodder for a future blog.) I could’ve kicked and screamed and cursed the heavens all year (and believe me, I did that first week), but I took a deep breath—so deep I could’ve swallowed the atmosphere—and looked at the bigger picture: 1) It’s just money, and money, as we all know, isn’t everything, 2) I wasn’t physically hurt or killed, and neither, thank God, were my children, wife, or other family members, and 3) I’m still not bankrupt (though it’s getting close!). And if you’re reading this right now, it means you either have a computer and/or a smartphone, so you can’t be too destitute yourself either, at least compared to people living in Third World countries. It’s a cliché and kinda corny but no less true: Gratitude is the attitude. How else could we live? Even if you are destitute, just the simple fact that you woke up today and are alive is proof positive that you can start to make changes in your life for the better. After all, what choice do we have? (btw, while I’m complaining about my financial troubles, now would be a good time to pick up one of my books at the links below. Hey, Christmas is coming!)

But seriously: Happy Thanksgiving.

MTP

P.S.: Next week’s blog: The First Reviews of Déjà View Are In—and They’re Pretty Good!

P.P.S.: Déjà View is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:

AmazonBarnes & Noble