“I do not know which to prefer…

The blackbird whistling

Or just after.”

These lines by poet Wallace Stevens sum up my feelings about holidays in general and today in particular. The feeling of gratitude, the feasting, and the fellowship of Thanksgiving make it one of my favorite holidays.

But equally as much, I savor the time when the activity winds down and the guests leave. That is when I quietly reclaim my space. With the dishwasher humming in the background, I love to sit back, soak up the peace, and let my mind wander through Thanksgivings of the past.

I’m one of those people who prefers celebrating the holidays one at a time. I am dismayed by the way our society moves directly from Halloween to Christmas. So for me, tonight is just the beginning of the transition to Christmas. I’ve gathered up my fall decorations. Tomorrow I’ll put them away and begin pulling out boxes of Christmas trimmings.

Since moving to Maples at the Sonatas, I’ve found another reason to appreciate Thanksgiving night. This is our annual flip-the-switch evening for our outdoor Christmas lights. By 4 pm, I was sitting by a window, watching for them to come on. As soon as they did, I hurried outdoors with my camera

I’ve never been much good at night photography, and that hasn’t changed this year. But taking pictures before it was completely dark might have helped a bit.

Let the Christmas season officially begin!