November 1st is what I have traditionally dubbed Put-Away-The-Tank-Tops-Until-Summer Day. That’s the sad task I’ve been working on this afternoon in The Tie Room. After the tank-top task, the same day transforms into a little activity I like to call The Gathering O’ The Winter Hats. So here I am in this photo– tankless, but wearing my cold-weather bow tie beanie.
This winter hat thing presents me with a new problem to solve. Since I’ve only had my hearing device for about six months, I have never had to deal with it in the winter. How do I cover my cold right ear with my beanie, while my hearing aid is struggling to hear? Pulling my beanie down over my ear will keep my ear toasty, but it will also muffle my hearing aid– making me deafer than I already am. And I am really, really, really hard of hearing– just ask Suzanne. Just ask her about the TV volume. I dare ya to ask. She won’t have to answer. You’ll see her face in response to the question, and you will know.
Do I actually have to choose between my hearing and a frostbitten ear? I’m trying to invent something to solve this bigly problem, but so far, I am stymied. If it ends up that I must choose one over the other, I will definitely choose to have a warm deaf ear. “What? Hey, turn up the world’s volume, would ya?”
Bow Tie o’ the Day’s candy cane colors are a clue to yet another dilemma I’m wrestling with. It’s an annual dilemma. When is the exact right time for TIE O’ THE DAY to begin displaying the holiday neckwear? To be honest, I have way too many pieces of holiday neckwear to wear each one by January 1st, especially if I wear only two per day. In fact, I probably have enough holiday ties to wear at least one on each day of the entire year. (Don’t suggest I do it, please. You know I do what you tell me to.) Even if I start donning the seasonal ties tomorrow, there’s no way they can all make an appearance in the next two months. I must be selective, and what I don’t wear this holiday season, I’ll wear next year. Or the next year. Tie rotation.
But I have to decide if I really want to go with the holiday neckwear so soon. I usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t let me show off as many holiday ties as I think y’all want to see. On the other hand, if I begin the holiday tie season tomorrow, I fear we might all be holiday-tied out by the beginning of December. Any strong thoughts about it? When do y’all want me to bring out the festive neckwear?
BTW I’m not being political here. I do not have a problem with saying “Merry Christmas.” I tend to use the word “holiday” because I am not specifically referring to Christmas. I celebrate with friends who celebrate Hanukkah and/or Kwanzaa– as well as friends who observe Christmas– and these annual celebrations occur around the same time. They share a time of year, and they share the same basic values. When I’m communicating one-on-one, I use the specific greetings that apply. It’s not difficult. It’s respectful. It’s just plain polite.