Over The River and Through The Woods

Or, to be more precise, over the bridges, onto the ferry and through the Block Island Sound.

One of the many nice things about growing up in the Greater Kansas City area is the annual Lighting of the Plaza on Thanksgiving Evening. It's hard to explain to a bunch of hardened New Englanders that hundreds of people pile into their cars, leaving several hours in advance so as to find a parking space two or three miles from just the perimeter (pubic transportation? Isn't that for poor people ?), then stand in the cold with friends for hours so that we can watch someone flip a switch (usually associated with the Chiefs or Royals) and turn on all the Christmas lights. But, man it's fun. And it's romantic - more the adjective than the verb. It's a large area, the lights are beautiful, the mood is festive and people are generally pleased as punched that you accidentally stepped on their new suede loafers. With a little nip in the air, the tip of your nose turns pink and someone always manages to bring a vat of hot cocoa. And when the lights all come on at once, you can't help but catch your breath, no matter how many times you've seen it. Because it really is everything your inner child imagines Christmas is.

This year there will be a certain amount of driving, a great deal of grumping (toddler - teenager: take your pick), some good food, the Dog Show, a lot of "can I go hang out at"s...and somewhere in the bottom of my garlic-filled soul and the corner of my heart that is three sizes too small, I will be on a street with fellow strangers, singing impromptu Christmas carols and feeling - just for a moment - that all is right with the world.

And it's not even Thanksgiving yet.