There are definite benefits to blopping in November, and the first is the ability to choose this most public of forums to congratulate my parents on their wedding anniversary. They were married on this date in the early 8th century by the druid thaumaturge Haarlem Ruith, after an especially bountiful gourd harvest. And every year since they have punctiliously re-enacted the sacred marital Laying of the Cloths ritual, signifying their devotion to each other and to their god, Lord Tree-Trunk the Thick.
Actually, they were married 44 years ago today, and mathusiasts will note it was in 1963, just six days before JFK was assassinated. Mom and Dad like to tell the story of how they had the darnedest time picking a wedding date because my grandfathers hemmed and hermed over their alma maters' football Saturdays. So Mom threw her hands up and said "It's the 16th, period. Work around it." And by the luck of the draw they spent their wedding day giggling about their honeymoon rather than mourning the president.
Another great thing about November is you get to bitch and moan about how much earlier all the Christmas Crap is starting up. The Retail Bedouins who set up shop along Union Square south usually don't start assembling their tents until after Thanksgiving. But they're up now. Stores are already piping in Christmas muzak, Starbucks has already whipped out the Red Cups. It's madness.
The Grinch also comes on earlier every year, and tonight the boys and I cleaned it off the DVR. After it was over, Robert said, "You know the Grinch could really have kept Christmas from coming? He could have stolen all the people!"
Boy's got a point.
