Today marks the beginning of “the most wonderful time of the year!”  NOT!   And so begins an endurance race that rivals the Iron Man. The season begins with a dinner party for 25. Translation:  40 pounds of turkey, 15 pounds of mashed potatos, stuffing (never enough), corn (always a guessing game), 2 sweet potato pies, gravy, pumpkin bread, and corn bread. And that’s just my assignment.  A dinner that took 5 days to shop, cook and serve, will be eaten and cleared away in just under an hour. At this point some people hear Christmas bells or angels singing; I hear the sound of gun — and start running.

Several years ago the radio stations started a new tradition.  They start playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving and it doesn’t stop until the day after Christmas.  This year Thanksgiving is one week earlier — an extra week of Christmas music.  I’m not sure why, but I am compelled to listen from day one. Even after I’ve heard Little Drummer boy for the 45th time!  Is this an addiction or some crazy attempt at lobotomy?  I’m not sure, but I can’t turn it off.  I’ve already started humming “White Christmas”.  I guess it’s a learned reflex.

So, for me, today marks the beginning of a tinsel marathon of decorating, cooking, stocking stuffing, shopping and all out holiday revelry.  I will doggedly listen to Christmas music, deck the halls and shop till I drop in a futile attempt to “have the spirit”.

No kidding now, I believe the trick to this race is to keep in mind that it’s not crossing the finish line that gives us satisfaction, but the actual race to get there.  Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the…..can’t stop!