Have we forgotten?

This is just a reminder for those who have forgotten, there is a holiday between Halloween and Christmas. It’s called Thanksgiving. It is apparent that we have forgotten this time of giving thanks.
I was appalled. In mid-October, stores began pulling Halloween stuff off the shelves making way for Christmas stuff. Something is very wrong with that picture. And, it truly is worth a thousand words.
For heaven’s sake, are we so money hungry and greedy that we can’t enjoy one holiday before shifting gears for the next?
In days gone by, AKA the Good Ol’ Days, we used to spend the whole month of October planning our Halloween costume. . .Maybe a store-bought one this year.
My first store-bought costume was Casper the Friendly Ghost. It was made of some shiny, silky material that draped over the body. And, it had a plastic mask that was held on by a elastic band. When I put that thing on, I looked just like that ghostly cartoon character, friendly of course.
And, trick-or-treating was out of this world. A kid could go all over town and bring home a bucket-load of candy, homemade cookies and popcorn balls. Safety was never an issue.
After Halloween, it was time for Thanksgiving plans. What were we going to have for Thanksgiving dinner? Who would probably be in attendance? And, who was mad at Uncle John and wouldn’t show?
The only thought of Christmas came maybe because parents put something on lay-away.
Thanksgiving Day finally arrived. School was out for a few days. There was a big 'ole table loaded down with food, and another table overflowing with pies, cakes and puddings.
Folks began arriving, Grandma and Grandpa’s house was filling up fast. Aunts and Uncles, cousins and sometimes people you really didn’t know came in droves to get a taste of Grandma’s turkey and pumpkin pie.
Stores were closed. Forget work it was time for family. Sadly today it’s more forget family, it’s time for work . . . Such a sad commentary.
When the last dab of left-over turkey was gone, it was time to think about Christmas. And, it was thought of as Jesus’ birthday and a time for Santa Claus. There wasn’t a lot of conflict, Jesus first . . . Old Saint Nick second.
For kids, Christmas was a time filled with anticipation. As soon as Thanksgiving was in the history books, the Santa Claus countdown was on. Then when you thought you couldn’t stand it any longer, it was Christmas Eve and Santa was on his way. Sleep was out of the question. You stayed in bed for if you got up and looked Santa would leave, along with the presents.
Come sun-up all was fair. Kids rousted mom and dad from a sound sleep. It was Christmas Day and presents needed to be open. The joy and wonder in a child’s eye when beside the tree stood a new bicycle or doll is unmatched in today’s world.
We live in different world today. The awe is long gone from our lives and sadly from many children’s lives. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are just seasons for making the almighty dollar. And, the more made, the happier we think we are.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where a child was safe on Halloween night; where we were truly thankful at Thanksgiving; and where Christmas joy came from Christmas Eve at church; and a kid was happy with a Tonka Truck or baby doll?
Gone are those days. For ever I fear.
Take time this month to be Thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!