Uh-oh, the holidays are here

– Columns –

Well, the holidays aren’t quite here yet, but they’re knocking on the door. Then again, if you’ve been to a Walmart or other local shopping chain recently, you’ve probably seen the Christmas decorations on display since October. If you ask me, that’s a crime against humanity.

I say, let us enjoy the holidays as they were meant to be enjoyed – in their own time and in their own month. Poor Thanksgiving hardly gets the spotlight any more – it gets passed over in favor of Halloween, then Christmas, and that’s a real shame, because turkey and mashed potatoes are awesome.

Soon Abbotsford will celebrate its annual Christmas parade. I’ve been here two years now, and I can recognize the patterns of the parade’s return – it usually means my boss, Kris, looks liable to strangle multiple people with her bare hands. Thankfully, she has not, especially, since the last time Then again, holidays by their very nature are strange things.

We take one day out of the year, to pay homage to turkey or observe someone’s birthday. But for all that, a holiday is a good thing. It breaks us out of our routine and reminds us great things happened in the past, that great men and great women made great changes upon this planet.

The holidays are also a wonderful time to get together, to see the people we love and care about. Sometimes, we can go years without seeing the ones we love. Life is funny like that.

People who were such a big part of our lives when we were growing up, are now almost like strangers to us. We each go our separate lives, do our own thing, then pop in and out of each other’s lives, like the brief flickering of a candle flame.

The holidays remind us to be with the ones we care about – and if you can eat a delicious bird, or tofu turkey if you are of the vegan persuasion, then so much the better.

It’s strange to think in a few weeks time, we’ll celebrate the holidays. I mean, the fall sports season just came to a close and basketball is only barely beginning. It should be interesting, following all those storylines this season.

Each year, new faces emerge and new stars are made. Lake Holcombe, Cornell and Cadott should have some exciting games on both sides. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Lake Holcombe boys will do this season. They have plenty of talent coming back and I think a deep run is very, very realistic.

That being said, sports isn’t about titles, it’s about the effort. Not everyone is going to stand over 6 feet tall or be able to dunk. But you can be an All-Star of hard work and effort.

Thankfully, the Chieftains, Chiefs and Hornets have tons of All-Stars, of hard work and hustle.

I checked, murder is illegal.

Stupidity should be, too, for that matter, but alas, it is not. Have you ever noticed that? Whenever the holidays get here, people’s collective IQs drop. They start to act strange or irrational.