A Most Gracious and Sincere Thank You Note to November

The past few weeks have been a bit ugly. With all of the mudslinging and campaigning and talk of the world ending regardless of the outcome of the election, I have found solace in staying away from the media as much as possible. My heart cannot handle the barrage of negativity.

While the craziness may continue for a bit longer as the dust settles, I think it is time to focus on something else. Given that we are in the midst of a month dedicated to gratitude, I feel compelled to write a thank you note.

A healthy dose of thankfulness mixed with a little sass just might be the answer to all of our woes. I am feeling both grateful and sassy, so consider yourself warned.

Sometimes I feel sorry for November because it tends to get overshadowed in the midst of preparation for December’s magic. November needs a little attention, and I am happy to oblige. With that introduction, here is my most gracious and sincere thank you note to November:

Dear November,

I would just like to take a minute to give you a little love. I have a list of things that I want to thank you for, so let’s get started. I would recommend that you sit down because, well, you may be blown away by my appreciation. 

First off, thank you for the overload of candy. While Halloween is officially in October, you are lucky enough to claim the aftermath.

Candy wrappers piled on every surface in my home are divine, don’t you think? As if the counters, floors, and kids’ bedrooms are not enough, I absolutely adore sitting on my couch to cuddle with my favorite fuzzy blanket, only to hear the crackling of wrappers that are hidden within its folds. Of course, nobody claims responsibility for those wrappers. Apparently, they appear out of nowhere.

I am quite confident that my kids never eat sugary treats this time of year, preferring vegetables instead. Since they constantly beg for broccoli like it’s going out of style, obvious evidence of candy consumption is likely a fluke. We will blame it on the dog.

While we are on the subject of food, I would also like to thank you, sweet November, for the gift that keeps on giving: turkey. I’m not sure whose idea it was to choose a traditional dish for Thanksgiving that could not possibly be finished in one sitting (or six). Maybe it was the Pilgrims, but they probably did not have many options.

If you had anything to do with this decision, my hat is off to you. I always get excited to hide turkey in every meal for a full week following the holiday. It provides an excellent opportunity for a treasure hunt. And who doesn’t like turning mealtime into a game? 

My kids wait with bated breath for that week of leftover magic. Let me assure you that there is not one word of complaint spoken about the “chicken” that keeps rearing its tasty head.

As we move down my gratitude list, I would like to express my appreciation for Black Friday, which has recently overtaken Thanksgiving day. Thank you, November, for providing an opportunity for us to spend our thankful holiday scouring ads and shopping for more stuff. If that doesn’t facilitate family togetherness, I don’t know what does.

There is nothing that says gratitude more than the careless stampede that happens when the stores open to shoppers seeking inexpensive Christmas gifts. If you get run over by a person who doesn’t bother to stop and apologize because they must beat you to the electronics section, that’s OK. Call it a necessary sacrifice on the road that leads to peace and goodwill toward men.

I appreciate the sentiment of savings, but I am most thankful for Amazon, the beautiful elf who keeps me out of the stores during all of this holiday hoopla. My life has taken on new meaning since I discovered Cyber Monday. If that is your doing, dearest November, I will love you forever.

Another thing that I will be eternally grateful for during your month is the magic of electricity. With a husband who is just a tad obsessed with Christmas lights, we would be lost without it.

While we do not light up the house until after Thanksgiving is over because there is turkey to cook and eat, we do spend a good portion of this month figuring out how to create a winter wonderland without blowing any fuses. That is tricky work; I tell you.

Sometimes we must sacrifice vacuuming for Christmas cheer. Just keep that in mind when you come to my house during this season of lights. 

The best part of this miraculous gift of electricity is the bill that comes in January. The electric company should personally thank us because we are their number one customer. Try not to be jealous.

All joking and sarcasm aside, I do love you, November, for your gift of cooler weather, which means that I can now wear pants without melting. Sometimes. That is a big deal.

And I do look forward to the gathering, cooking, eating (and eating…and eating…), and general cheerfulness that accompanies you. I can’t get enough of the smell of pumpkin spice, which only encourages me to eat more baked goods that are packed full of pumpkin deliciousness. Hopefully, my pants will still fit by the time you have faded into December, but that is doubtful.

Thank you, November, for being my friend – for waiting patiently for your turn to shine so late in the year, and for reminding me of what is truly important in life: family, friends, faith, food, and Hallmark movies. And, just so that you know, those are in no particular order.

All my love,

Lynnette