To me Thanksgiving is without question the best holiday of the year because it’s pure, at least for the most part. 

Turkeys sit in a barn at the Willie Bird Turkey Farm in Sonoma, California
Turkeys sit in a barn at the Willie Bird Turkey Farm in Sonoma, California (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
loading...

Everyone who wants to can celebrate it regardless of race or religion and it’s the one holiday in these politically-correct times that does not offend anyone.  You can even display pictures of turkeys without having someone force you to take them down because they violate some law. 

When you wish someone a “Happy Thanksgiving” you don’t have to fear the possibility that they may not acknowledge the holiday and you’ve said something offensive.  I mean have you yet to see a bumper sticker that reads, “Put the thanks back in Thanksgiving?”   Actually that may not be far off; more in a moment.

To me the day has always been out the four F’s: family, food, football and fun.  Whether you are traveling out of town or remaining at home it’s a time for families and friends to reunite and renew traditions that have in many cases been passed down from one generation to another.  Eating is not done as a meal but in stages that often takes hours from the opening appetizers to the final deserts. 

Each year I try and adopt this philosophy that it’s not a sprint but a marathon but before I know it I’m stuffed and the stuffing (with sausage of course) has not even hit the table yet.  It’s just a matter of time before you need to loosen your belt and ever there was a perfect day for stretch pants this would be it.

However the perfection of Thanksgiving is being destroyed by retailers who can’t wait until “Black Friday” so they now have created “Grey Thursday.”  A growing number of the nation’s biggest stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and Target will opening Thanksgiving evening while Kmart will actually open at 6am on the holiday.  Of course the enticement is sales and yes some if not many of you will be there and that’s your choice. 

However it also means that people will have to work and while some may be delighted to earn the extra bucks I’m sure others will have to change or cancel holiday plans.  And let’s be honest this is a growing trend and before long Thanksgiving will just be another day to shop for Christmas.

Speaking of which, look down the road a few years.  You wake up on Christmas morning, open presents, go to church and then head out to return what you didn’t like at the Mall which is offering great deals on early returns.  Don’t laugh, it’s coming.

More From 92.7 WOBM