It's November, the stretch run

Yup it's time to put away your scary or silly costumes and turn those jack o lanterns into pies. Another year is coming to a close and for many it has been a hard bitter journey. Before it ends though it is of course the time here in America to prepare to give thanks for all we have had, seen, done, those we have known, lost and will never forget. Depending on your outlook on life this is either a somber or joyous time, hmm I guess it could be just like any other time. I am talking about my personal bias when mentioning somber or joyous but then what of those who either don't celebrate, have no one to celebrate with, or else it isn't even their holiday?

For me it's about family, good food, usually pretty good memories and a time to reflect. It also happens to be the time before my mother and I's birthdays(Ancient lady, she was mentioned in the LTBL post), so usually it's pretty up beat time of year around these parts. Plus you get great food: Turker, Sweet potato pie, Mashed Potatoes(love potatoes any way ya serve them), candied yams, cranberry sauce, stuffing. Man the dishes about to be placed in front of us in a few weeks are going to be awesome, not that my life is ever all fun and games but really if you do not put the good times versus the bad in perspective you will always have problems.

I had so much on my mind when I started this blog earlier in the day and got side tracked, so this is where I will end it a quick update and so Holiday wishes.

I'm not a complete grinch

As much as I am known to loathe christmas music, I have no problems with holisay decorations. Yes both are just padding for a companies bottom line, but at least the decorations are about personal expression.
I mean look at most christmas albums all USUALLY remakes of some song somebody else made a classic. Maybe you do it right, maybe you commit a travesty to music but rarely is it something new.
Now not with "christmas lights"(I know its more than lights but that's what I call them) that's almost always something personal, people can buy the same lights or decorations but set them up completely differently from each other.

Back in south jersey there used to be a guy who basically created "Christmas Village" man this place it was like all those old moving puppet style christmas specials. He used to have the chasing lights, he'd have singing lights, dancing characters, waterfalls, frosted trees. I mean he used to have this donation box and I would always put my extra change in there. It used to be my special christmas time, pre birthday treat when we lived in jersey. I heard he had to sell that house when I was in my 20's but I thank him for the memories he gave every child that went there.

Even that last year he admitted the expense but I heard he said it was just something he loved to do, that the smalls on our faces brought him so much joy. I had often wished to share that experience with children of my own(except I did not have children before he sold it nor do I have any now, but it was a fond wish). I hope somebody else has blogged about christmas village or posted pictures of it. Because this time of year that's what it should be about simple things you can share with family. The memories of our trips to christmas village has outlasted all the toys I ever got in those years, all the comics, all the clothes, and cards.
I mean every year the subtle changes he would make, the bigger the spectacle. I swear even as a young teen my eyes would grow wide because it would be that 0_0 moment. The I didn't expect that, or I can't believe he was able to pull that off.

Now no RARELY does everyone pull off a christmas village, but even the folks who do the Transiberian Orchestra Dancing lights, or other Musically Choreagraphed offerings it always makes me happy that I share a birthday with this time of year. These type of moments and visuals stay with you for a lifetime

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