It is early November and houses are already decorated with Christmas lights. I feel like I have been time warped into the future. A little game we play on our rides is the “light game”. My sons count the houses with Christmas decorations on their side of the car. (Sometimes a ride around the block to guarantee a win) Recently, on a ten mile trip we counted 15 houses with CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! We haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet. Now don’t get me wrong I love everything about Christmas. But I also enjoy being mindful of the holiday that we are in before rushing to the next holiday. Life goes too fast as it is.
We have all seen the Halloween decorations out at the beginning of August. This year I saw Christmas decorations in the stores on Halloween weekend. Why do we rush these holidays before fully enjoying the one we are in? Many of my friends enjoy decorating for fall at the end of August early September prior to the calendar change to the fall season. I’ve always thought they were crazy. All of the fall decorations are beautiful and everything pumpkin spice is wonderful but I just can’t rush the colder weather and short days.
This year has had a negative feel with COVID restrictions and one of the most stressful elections in US history. Fall and Christmas decorating brings a wonderful nostalgia. Who doesn’t love the feeling of snuggling by a cozy fire with a cup of hot cocoa or pumpkin spice latte. We can’t leave out jumping in a pile of leaves with the kids and pets. What about the brilliant colors Central PA gave us this year. My work related trips were welcomed this fall.
Let’s talk about Christmas lights. Normally I’m one of those people that put up their lights the weekend after Thanksgiving and don’t take them down until well after New Years. Again, sitting by the fire with the twinkling Christmas lights on my mantle just brings me peace and joy. As much as I love the drives around the country side in the fall, Christmas lights are even better. The smells of pine, peppermint, and cookies baking are all things that make us happy.
So why not decorate early! We have been blessed with a beautiful week of warmer weather. It is the perfect time to decorate. Although I love decorating, I don’t enjoy decorating in the cold weather. It is so hard to put up lights with gloves, a winter coat and hat. Every year I feel like I have been transported into the “Griswold’s Family Vacation” movie. You know the one. You spend all day decorating in the freezing cold weather. After you’re done you gather the family around outside for the magical first lighting. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all your decorations up before the cold. Early decorating extends the season of excitement. Christmas season brings more family and friends social events.
Although I have felt more like the Grinch with each new decoration my neighbors put up, I do believe I will join the festivities. Perhaps I will start out slow and only put up some of my outside lights with very minimal inside decorations. My limits will be with putting up the stockings and the Christmas tree. These are two things that I will save for after Thanksgiving.
Karrie Sarisky, Elder Care Coordinator at Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC. Karrie joined the KMA team in February 2020 right before the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her. Karrie works tirelessly to maintain the best qualify of life and care for our Guardian clients. Karrie moved to Bloomsburg from the Greater Philadelphia Area to attend Bloomsburg University. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has over 17 years of experience working with the senior populations. She started out working at the Aging office as a Caseworker and then a Protective Services Worker. Protecting our senior population is one of Karrie’s passions. Karrie and her husband, Justin, live in Bloomsburg with their two sons, Jansen and Landen. In Karrie’s free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, cheerleading at her sons’ sporting events, hiking and beach time.
