november | the awkward month

painted by Jennie A. Brownscombe

Today begins the month of November.

It is a rather awkward month in some particularly peculiar ways. Let me give you a few examples.

I am very much a proponent of not getting ready for one holiday before all other major holidays leading up to it are celebrated. I mean if we are going to take Thanksgiving Day seriously, then lets not treat it like the poor step child of Christmas. Go into the major retailers and you will see Christmas paraphernalia of various sorts already being displayed. I try to keep all my family’s excitement over Christmas at bay until December 1st, but I’m lucky to even get to mid-November. This year has been particularly bad, both wife & daughter began talks as early as August or September—that’s just craziness.

So poor November.

Why does it become awkward? Well because you feel the tension of saving one’s love for others until December. For an example, say I want to give a small gift to my wife or child to show my love or gratitude. Well if I do it now, yeah they will love me, but then I set them & myself up for disappointment next month. If it’s really good then I have to top it at Christmas. If I don’t then I just look like I half-aced it.

So here is the tension, I love you but I have to regulate my love quotient to a certain bare minimum—so how about just a hug and a smile? Christmas cards are coming soon, I should save the stamp; so I can’t even sending you a card!

This one is for you November.