It's Christmas Time in the Village of Greendale

The Most Efficient amongst us are, of course, done. 

Their lights are up, their Christmas cards have been sent and their holiday shopping is complete. Their receipts are doubled filed – alphabetically and by dollar value. In anticipation of less than acceptable gifts from the rest of us, they have already set up a procedure for returns. 

These people, the Most Efficient, will be taking down their Christmas decorations next week.  They need to start prepping for Valentine’s Day.

However, the rest of us have some Christmas work to do.  Example: We have to pick up our gay apparel from the dry cleaner.  Until then, it’s nothing but the donning of bland apparel for the foreseeable future. 

There was something to be said for the 12 Days of Christmas Concept.  Pack a lot into two weeks and give a lot fowl related gifts - spiced up with the occasional golden ring and leaping lord. 

But Christmas as a Less Than Two Week Event is a thing of the past.  99.1 FM has been playing “Silver Bells” since July 5^th. The elves ‘Occupy North Pole’ movement makes ‘Occupy Wall Street’ look like a day in the park.

Even the most stubborn, the most accomplished deniers, begrudgingly accept the Christmas Season officially begins with something called Black Friday.  This now begins on a Thursday that just does not need the interruption. Regardless, ITB has had NFL refs thoroughly review the tapes and there is indisputable visual evidence that the Christmas Season is well upon us. 

Get to work, people.

But wait, here is an ITB tip:  Do not think of the Christmas Holidays as work.  Call on your inner Gandhi – or Frankie – and “relax”.  Stress?  Don’t do it.  That’s right – Relax, don’t do it.

Small merchants – in Greendale and the world - have been trying to convince us that Black Friday is followed by ‘’  These merchants are really on to something - something very good, fun and low stress. Heck, drop the ‘Saturday’ and just ‘Shop Local.’   

Here is another ITB tip, this one for Christmas 2012:  Ease into the Holiday Season with  If you have never strolled the Village Sidewalks during this event, this is what you are missing: Mayberry combined with Stars Hollow combined with Bedford Falls, multiplied by 100.  There are actual chestnuts roasting on actual open fires.  Really.

Here is a link to some pictures of the 2011 Dickens that recently posted on the Greendale Patch:

Yes, my friend, you missed this year’s Dickens Fest, our little Miracle on Broad Street.  Do not fret. 

You can catch it next year as Greendale Dickens of a Christmas is an annual event, generally held on the evening of the first Friday of December.  You out-of-towners that read Inside the Bubble should be making travel plans for next year. Bring your appetites and your wallets.

Another reason not to fret is that the Village of Greendale, America’s Garden Community, hangs on to that special Dickens ambiance throughout the entire month of December.  Our Victorian charm is no secret.  I mean, come on, we are on the Internet, the home of no secrets:

http://www.discovergreendale.com/directory.aspx

So, grab your coat and grab your hat and leave your worries at your door step.  Spend a day in downtown Greendale. You can celebrate polishing off that Christmas gift list by polishing off a spectacular Ferch’s sundae. 

You know it is true: Christmas, like life, is meant to be enjoyed.