Letters From North
America by Peary Perry
Is it
time for the holidays
already? My internal
clock says it’s still
about April. What has
happened to this year?
It’s gone by entirely
too fast if you ask me.
The years seem to go by
so much faster these
days than years ago.
I also would like to
pick a bone with the
merchants who start the
holiday season way too
early in the year. Last
night I was getting home
from a business trip and
the airports were
already playing
Christmas music. I
noticed the lights and
garlands were on the
street lights as I drove
home. It isn’t Christmas
until after Thanksgiving
as far as I’m concerned.
Let’s get one over
before we start the next
one, ok?
I mean if we’re going to
just clump everything
together, then how about
a new plan? Let’s break
the holidays into six
month segments. The
first six months we’d
have something along the
lines of
NewValentinesMotherDadEasterMemorialIndependence
season. Gifts of hearts
and fireworks would be
acceptable all season
long. Everybody would be
happy.
The second half of the
year would bring
LaborHalloweenThankfulChristmas
season. Decorating your
tree in orange and black
would be acceptable
during these six months.
Also having your lights
up would be ok from
September through
December. Some of us do
that part anyway.
I believe my plan would
eliminate a lot of
confusion and reduce the
amount of stress we
place upon ourselves in
trying to observe these
holidays. You go to the
card racks at the store
and look at the number
of cards for all of the
different occasions. You
can go blind just
standing there trying to
figure out what to buy.
But, if there was a
general purpose all
around card that you
could use for multiple
events, look at how much
easier your life would
be. You could have a
check off box to use
where you’d just put a
mark beside what holiday
you wanted to observe.
It would make your life
so much simpler. You’d
have the ability to
combine holidays to fit
your schedule on the
days you wanted to have
them observed. Think of
it, you could buy a
present for your mom and
dad, take them to dinner
on the same day and be
done with it without
hurting anyone’s
feelings. Makes sense to
me.
This is what we need,
less stress and a
simpler lifestyle. In
spite of all of the time
saving tools we have
around us each day, we
still seem to be busier
than ever and have less
free time to enjoy life.
By the time you get to
the age where you want
to stop and smell the
roses, your nose has
given out and the blooms
have wilted.
There was an old saying
that went something
like… the hurryider I
go, the behinder I get.
As I said before, here
it is the week of
Thanksgiving and I’m
still stuck in the first
half of the year. Well,
enough of that nonsense,
I’m thankful for my
family, my friends, my
health and my country.
I’m proud that we live
in a country where we
feel free enough to
criticize one another
over how the country
should or should not be
run. I’m proud we live
in a country where we
are free to admit our
mistakes and try to do
something to fix them as
the days go by. I trust
you are thankful as
well.
Pay no attention to my
griping and moaning
about being too busy. I
love it and I’m thankful
that I can still get on
planes and go half way
around the world and be
glad about it.
Take a moment this week
to look around you. Hug
your wife or husband and
tell your kids how much
you love them. Try to
eat less and exercise
more, I am. Take time to
talk to someone and even
more time to listen to
someone else.
The days go by fast and
it gets away from us
before you know it. Be
thankful for the time
you have and who you
have it with. Happy
Thanksgiving.
