I am trying to adjust to the fact that Thanksgiving is only a
week from today. By law, the holiday is always observed on the fourth Thursday
of the month and this year November has five Thursdays. In my mind that makes
Thanksgiving a week early.
I realize that it’s not. It’s been the fourth Thursday in
November since 1941. The last time November had five Thursdays was 2007. I can’t
recall if the holiday felt early that year, maybe that’s because I was too
preoccupied with the poinsettia tree saga. Five years ago the poinsettia tree
was removed from The Mall for the first time since 1972. It came back the following year and has returned every year since.
Anyway…
It’s now upon us. By Tuesday next week the wheels of commerce
will have ground to a halt for just about everyone who isn't involved in the
retail trades and, of course, those whose work knows no holiday.
The upside of the early holiday is that it provides a little
breathing room between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
