The Gay High Holy Day has passed, and we are off to the holiday races. I can tell because my friend Phillip already has the first of his four Christmas trees up. First of four. You heard that correctly. He posted his tree on Instagram, and I immediately had to check the calendar. Yep. November 1st. Apparently, we’re skipping Thanksgiving this year and moving right into Christmas.
I’m not sure if that’s such a bad idea.
To say this year has been something of a dumpster fire would be an understatement. And I don’t know what other euphemisms we could combine with that to encompass how many of us are feeling. Dick punch? Shit show? Turd in a punch bowl? After the pummeling the queer community has taken in these last ten months, early Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa festivities might be exactly what we need.
Except that takes away the opportunity to sit around the Thanksgiving table and have a helpful family member suggest we tell everyone what we’re thankful for. Because seeing family isn’t stressful enough. Now we have to create reasons on the spot to be thankful? No, thank you. My brain is in a turkey-and-stuffing fog. I’m just thankful I can move from the chair to the couch.
Plus, after this year—and despite having things I am truly thankful for—if anyone asks, they’re likely to get a very sarcastic answer. Thankful that I’m not brown-skinned. Thankful that I can use the restroom and not risk going to jail. Thankful the administration hasn’t taken away my right to free speech, even if they’re doing everything in their power to change that.
Thankful I’m not on an H-1B visa or trying to come from another country on a visa. Thankful I live in a red state that’s less likely to be overrun with National Guard troops and Kristi Noem. Thankful I have health insurance that isn’t purchased through the ACA Marketplace. Thankful I don’t rely on SNAP benefits.
I had no idea that could be such a loaded question. It’s just Thanksgiving. I should probably lighten up.
So maybe this wouldn’t be a bad year to skip that tradition. James and I could follow Phillip’s cue and start pulling out our Christmas bins. We don’t have many fall or Thanksgiving decorations as it is. We could throw those back in the box, dig out the tinsel and garland, and start early on creating a winter wonderland. I do have some new LEGO Christmas sets to assemble.
Except we are only putting up one tree. Unless someone (Phillip) would like to take on decorating more. Something I would give thanks for.
