A friend told me they went to the store and saw items for Halloween already. We talked about retailers pushing seasonal products before it’s in season in an effort to feed our addiction to “stuff.” Pushing October/Halloween items in August though?
We are definitely still in summer. The weather has been so balmy, with sprinkles of “way too hot,” that it makes one want to stay in the summer frame of mind for as long as possible. I know October is less than two months away but do we have to say it out loud? If we do and if we acknowledge the retailers, we are admitting that summer is essentially over and winter will be here next week.
You know what else is upon us? You know what else we can get ready for early? Those Thanksgiving and Christmas family conversations. This year will be a doozy. This year there is a menu of conversation items. We’ve got an election with theme music playing in the background, such as The Clash’s, “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” We’ve got Gaza, the Russian war against Ukraine and, according to Semaglutide (Ozempic) statistics, at least 50% of your family members may be thinner than you at Christmas. How will you feel about that?
As a break from the intense moments at the holiday dinner, you may want to discuss breakdancing at the Olympics and who is going to go to represent the United States who won just one bronze medal in a style of dance introduced by African American culture, which dug into African roots to resurrect, refresh, and introduce it to the masses through Hip-Hop culture. But sure. Japan deserves the gold. I guess appropriation outcry is finally out of style and embracing other cultures not your own is finally in. “Take that, Cancel Culture!”
To cut the intensity of arguments about the aforementioned topics, work off those calories by having a “breakoff” (break dance battle) after your holiday meals. Another option is a plethora of TikTok dances you and your family and friends can try.
By the time the holidays come, we may only have the bandwidth for mindless dancing and lip-synching because we can’t take anymore “stuff.” If you can’t do either, whether it’s due to two left feet or an aversion to crooning, you can always spin around in circles like a crazy person laughing and your family will leave you alone … hopefully.
There are many ways to avoid drama and messy conversations. Just focus on what’s important: love and good memories. If you want the latter, you’d better bring you’re A-game for the holidays by being prepared, go into “situation” training now, and be ready to bring the “peace heat” (extreme peace).
Doing this in advance will make you so peaceful and centered, the world can add even more chaos and toxicity between now and then and it will not phase you. As I said, start your preparation now.
Two pastimes Americans love during the holidays are talking, and sharing opinions. Let’s hope the various sports teams win something. There will be sports talk at the dinner table so … well, you know what to do.
EL Serumaga is a River Forest resident.