Happy Herman's Hideaway

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you, my San Saba loves! I hardly got those words out before my brain was bombarded with images of tinsel, the sound of Christmas tunes, lights and something I like to call Beat Black and Blue Bank Account Black Friday! Yeah, shoppers will be buying “things” in the spirit of the season, and I realize I am a dachshund, a dog and not human, but I have the entire length of me to have opinions so keep reading and get ready to hear them.

Mom told me when she was growing up, the Christmas season did not begin until the day after Thanksgiving. These days the stores put Christmas in the stores before skeletons, masks, fairy wands and French maid outfits for the older crowd. I sat mesmerized as mom spoke about Christmas decorating memories, her amazing mom and her incredible artistic talents. It seems in La Marque there was Best Decorated Yard contest each year, and 419 Grafton was entered - but not with decorations purchased from a store but handmade creations and beautiful carved, painted nativity scenes and such. Mom told me she and her sister, Carol, used to pretend they were pirates - but not looking for treasure chests full of gold, silver or jewelry but hidden Christmas presents. One year when mom was 10, she said their search was successful as in the hall closet, she found a child’s miniature Singer sewing machine. While neither of them knew which of them the gift was for, Christmas morning revealed it, along with a certain measure of disappointment when mom opened her main present and lost the element of surprise. Mom says that is what Christmas should be, wonder, surprise, awe and joy.

Thanksgiving is not usually a big celebration in our house, and this year we most certainly were not expecting it to be with mom being so ill. But then, Shawn surprised us to let us know he and Minna will be here. I have to say, any time Shawn visits, it is a holiday at our house, yep, makes our home a place of pure happiness. I won’t get to meet their dog, Brodie, yet, as he will be staying with Minna’s parents, but the four of us will have a great time. I hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and if you should begin to squeal at the dinner table, do not search for a pig in your house; find the nearest mirror, wipe the gravy off your mouth and take a long look. Remember, leftovers can be eaten the next day, be frozen, and the stomach is not a food locker. Oh yes, it is also impolite to stare at dinner and chant…“Be the turkey!” Thank you for being you.