The Tricks On Me

In a country plagued with an obesity epidemic, a magical holiday comes in October. We teach our children the American principle of entitlement, going door to door demanding candy from people we do not know. What begins as something cute and fun starts the seed of something that soon grows into an uncontrollable monster that rules us. Gobs of candy go into pillowcases, bags and buckets. More than any one person should consume, we feed the greed. They flock to other people’s neighborhoods dense with porch lights on and indulgent people who celebrate. Even churches have tried to monopolize on people’s gluttony to get them through the door. Schools try to dumb down the Halloween portion by calling it a Harvest party, still allowing children to wear costumes. 

As a kid growing up in a religious household, we were always sent to the library during Halloween parties or our mom came and took us out of school to do something else. Although our perspective has changed in many areas, I still have a hard time allowing my kids to participate in Halloween events at school. I do feel like it does have some spiritual connotations to it that I firmly do not support, but it is the principle of excess that makes me cringe. I know I struggle enough with an open bag of candy in my cupboards, I don’t know what I would do with the bounty of three adorable trick or treaters. 

I am all for celebrating the harvest and our family does take part in some of the Fall Festival activities.  I love fall, it is one of my favorite seasons. The holiday is great for getting families out together, having fun. Family trips to the Pumpkin Patch are memorable and exciting. This year, my son melted our silent resolve when he rolled a pumpkin up and gave us a pitiful face while asking if we could bring it home. As we drove home, the kids were listing off all of the different uses for the pumpkin. My husband spent three hours carving Mater into the pumpkin. The next night, they were eager to see it lit on the patio table and admire dad’s artwork. The girls thought that the pumpkin seeds were the best treat ever. The memories and the family time are priceless. 

One day isn’t enough to create an attitude of entitlement, but is it indicative of what we are teaching our children during the rest of the year? I know I am guilty of it myself. I rationalize deserving a treat or an item based on my performance of everyday tasks while forgetting that the ultimate payoff is the fact that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. Our bills are paid. We have luxuries like smart phones, internet, computers, and television. Are we in a perpetual state of overlooking the bounty in front of us and knocking on doors looking for more? 

Merchandisers have contributed to this state, but overall, it is us, the consumer who have ignored Thanksgiving and focused primarily on over spending and overindulging during Halloween and a short month later, Christmas. Halloween may be on the forefront, but for our family, Thanksgiving is coming early. It is starting with a budget and a new attitude towards the things we take for granted.

Today Creates Tomorrow’s Memories

I think sometimes we forget the power of today. In the overall picture, circumstances will fade away, leaving us with the highlights of our lives to remember. We dream and scheme over our tomorrows more than we often focus on our today. During writing class, I was visited by a picture in my head. Though it was simple enough, the unspoken words stirred many emotions. I began to recognize all of the beautiful wonderful pieces of my life that I sometimes forget to be thankful for. And because of the importance of those many small things, I want to share the story with you. 

Reflections

She sat at a table all alone slowly sipping her coffee while gazing out the picture window. The waitress carrying the coffee carafe hesitated to bother the lady when she saw the dreamy expression on the elderly woman’s face. Clearly, she was in another place. 

The lady dressed in her daytime best was lost to memories of her past. In a thankful state of retrospect, she realized the value of her experience. It looked repeatedly as though she had loved and lost. Had she known life would safely deposit her out on top, she may have done a few things different. 

While it may not have resembled the perfect performance, it most definitely did not constitute the worst.  She’d been married previously, but went on to find out what true love was. She had put her life on hold and sacrificed for her children, to have them scatter across the states. Fifty-five years ago, she chose to try again and laid her heart completely in the hands of a man that now lay in the ground. 

Perhaps she would have shown more patience. Maybe she wouldn’t have chosen that fight. Maybe she would have shown her love through the little things that she never made time for. Yes, she had been a good wife and mother. However, if she were to go back and do it again, this time she would have focused on being more extravagant with her love instead of fixed on showing it through her tasks. 

Regardless, as her grown offspring produced children of their own, they recognized the amount of effort she had put forth. They began to thank her for all of the things they took for granted. She now remembers dearly how her late husband had told her everyday how much he loved and appreciated her. The little things that used to irritate her are long forgotten. Memories highlight all of the precious things he did to remind her of how special their love was. 

And though she sits contemplatively alone in the end, she takes great joy in the fact that she still has these memories to carry her on through the rest of her days.