The turkey was carved, pumpkin pies devoured, and I could see our Thanksgiving guests would soon be homeward bound. Good-bye Pilgrims, hello Santa. Everyone knew that the minute Thanksgiving wrapped up, we’d move into Christmas. So there I was, ready to deck the halls. But this year, it was complicated. My Dear Hubby fiddled with his wrist wrap, which was still healing from recent surgery. With him out of commission, how was I going to drag those 27 tubs of precious Christmas decor from the garden shed through the waist-high snowbanks that had piled up in our snow-trapping backyard? And yes, I mean TWENTY-SEVEN of those big, 44-gallon round Rubbermaid tubs typically used for garbage receptacles. Desperate, I stopped our two grown sons before they escaped out the front door. Of course, I didn’t tell them what was waiting for them—at least, not until after they shoveled their way to the shed and dug the snow away from its door! I knew exactly what their first question would be after dragging the first four tubs through the back door: “How do we know which tubs you want in here?”

They should have known. They grew up with my obsession. “All of them.” I whispered, my jaws clenched as my face turned as red as Rudolph's nose. I’ll never forget what my father, who watched those tubs pile up in the sunroom, said to me. “What’s wrong with you? You have enough stuff here to decorate the Civic Center!”

Dad, I finally know what’s wrong with me.. I should have started Christmas decorating LONG before Thanksgiving!  Think about it: there are only about 30 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some years, as few as 27 days! Putting up 27 tubs of Christmas decor for as few as 27 days—what WAS I thinking? Some of us take a while to catch on. But after refraining from pre-Thanksgiving decorating for most of my long life, I have found the Thanksgiving turkey tastes the same--even in a room void of autumn decor! So, yes, I have gone to the dark side. And honestly? It’s not my fault.

Mariah Carey gave me permission when she began officially kicking off the Christmas season each year on November 1st with a rendition of her famous track, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” I'm pretty sure DH isn’t a fan. All he wants for Christmas is no decor.  “When we were growing up, my mother put up one red candle every year,” he’d mutter as he toted in tub after tub year after year. Now, he’s added to the grumble: “And never once did she put it out before Thanksgiving."

When do YOU decorate for Christmas?  Yes, Santa is a little out of place here, but the turkey tastes the same regardless of the clashing Christmas decor!