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Well Thursday November 20th at 10:00 AM I have my last edition of Home for the Holidays with Dan show, for the year. So I thought for a moment that maybe we should just talk about why we decorate for Christmas.  After all, the whole show is dedicated to Christmas lights, and trees, and things that sparkle and shine. And I am not talking about my usual history lessons on who did what and when they first did it, (Although, Martin Luther was credited with being the first to bring a tree into his home and lighting it for the holiday back in the 16th century). NO, I want to discuss the "WHY" we do it.  The psychology behind all of this madness.  Let's face it, it really doesn't make sense.

We spend money on decorations that probably could be better spent elsewhere.  It's cold outside and all of us are already much too busy for such nonsense. I have spent countless hours outside on a ladder in the pitch black of night or up on icy roof ledges when any sane individual would be inside by a roaring fire, that's just plain foolish. And I am no child any more, I am a man now approaching my mid-fifties and you would think I would have matured past the point where things that sparkle no longer fascinate me.

So let's all agree the whole practice of stringing lights and garland, standing outside freezing our tails off is, illogical, foolish, immature and nonsense.........

Now before you think I went "bah hum bug" on you, those are all the good reasons we do it.!

You see, Christmas is the time of year when we all try just a little bit harder, to be the good people we wish we took the time to be all year long. Life today is so busy that we forget to take the time to be fascinated.  A single plastic electric light bulb can never compare to the glory and grandeur of a single star in the night sky. And those stars are there all year, on most any given night for us to enjoy.  But like I said, we get busy and we simply forget to look. We don't take the time. For those of us who love this time of year and take the time to decorate, the process itself pleads us, implores us, to slow down and just enough to take it all in.

When we were children we didn't worry about what made sense and what didn't.  We did things because they were fun.  As children we didn't concern ourselves with being mature or looking foolish, we just played for the simple joy of the action itself.  And as far as logical, there was joy in believing that reindeer could fly.  And that the world was good and people still cared.....When we transform our homes for those quick few days between Thanksgiving and New Years we are actually transforming ourselves.  It is not so much about the decorations and the lights as it is how they make us feel.  We want to believe in all that is good and amiable.  And just believing that it might be true is what starts the path way that makes it true.

Christmas lights remind us to be children.  That sense of wonder and awe that we tend to grow up and grow out of.  Our lighting displays here on the farm tend to be a little exaggerated a tad over the top.  But when I am outside in the cold, on a star lit night, I find myself looking upward and being humbled by what I cannot, and would never attempt to compete with.  And when a neighbor drives by and sees them, if they smile even for a moment, even while thinking that guy is nuts for doing all that work, without me even being aware of it at that moment, the question is asked, did I make a difference?

So call me foolish, illogical or even immature, but on Christmas eve I will still put out cookies.  And just maybe I will take a bite of one for my wife's amusement in the morning.

To answer your question, yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause, and any and all of you will be hard pressed to convince me otherwise.

Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you so much for your support and understanding of my show.

Dan Hughes

QVC

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