And so it starts...

"Before we become a 'cold Omaha' in January, there are many good times to be had..."

Many people think that Minnesota in the dead of winter (as defined by our two endless months of January and February) resembles nothing more than a cold Omaha. I confess - I am also one who thinks that. Those two months (and sometimes March) are good only for doing inside jobs and then watching the days slowly, ever so slowly, get longer. However, late November and into the month of December are a different story all together.

It really does start with the day before Thanksgiving. In my working days, I it did not matter which company I was at. The day before Thanksgiving was not a day to get much done. It was a day to discuss (with great expectations) everyone's Thanksgiving. Where they were going, if they were hosting, and was the day was going to be like. Even if you were stuck with some relatives you did not particularly care for, it was still all good.

Then comes the day itself. The house becoming even warmer with the aroma of a cooking turkey, stuffing full of herbs and spices, all blended in with a symphony of other dishes cooking. A fire in the hearth, with a small mountain of firewood waiting at the ready. And we cannot forget about the great family distractor on this fine day - football. Yes, football on the television, often going from noon until after everyone has departed.

Following Thanksgiving comes the now famous "Black Friday". A day which can either make or break a merchant's financial heart. A day when many of us use (and sometimes abuse) our credit and debit cards. It is a day to get up at the crack of dawn (or long before), put on the shin pads and (as they say in the world of wrestling), "Get ready to rumble!"

Once Thanksgiving weekend is over, we are racing (and I mean racing) Pell-Mell into December. My wife's birthday, my birthday, my son-in-law's birthday - all shortly after the month starts. The house has now been transformed. Due to my wife's holiday décor skills, we have gone from the earth tones of fall, to something even more wonderful. The house is alive with color. Christmas songs are often playing in the background, and slowly presents start appearing under the tree. As Andy William's song goes, "It is the most wonderful time of the year." 

Finally it is here - Christmas Eve. It is the day my grandparents, my parents and this family have traditionally celebrated Christmas. Oh, don't get me wrong. Christmas day is still a big deal. But it is Christmas Eve when our festivities really start. Leg of lamb is our traditional Christmas Eve meal, with of course, all our favorite trimmings. No football is allowed on this day (except when it falls on a Sunday - and even then it is highly regulated). A fire, joyful music, and presents to be opened. No matter how many times we host Christmas Eve, I never tire of it.

Finally New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. After a full day of college bowl games on New Year's Day, the end of the festivities is now in sight. Besides for some NFL playoff games on the weekends, it is time to start sinking into the deep freeze. Thoughts of cruising someplace warm and seeing things which are green and growing start dancing through my head. But this year will be different. During January, which is traditionally my most un-favorite month of the year, new life will visit our family. Yes, our first grandson will be joining our family on January 24th. That event will make even the coldest of months, very warm indeed.