Decorous

There are many ways I could describe the Friday after Thanksgiving, but none would be "black". Decorous Friday seems more precise. The leftovers are plentiful and, maybe, more delicious than game day. The pace is generally relaxed. With two more travel days available over the weekend, no one has to hurriedly get anyway. So decorum reigns. The fact the Black Friday is a reference to retail shopping and commerce sullies the name further. One of the redeeming qualities of the Thanksgiving holiday is its less commercialized nature. But this Black Friday bombardment belies this.

Of course, this Friday business is associated not so much with Thanksgiving as with Christmas. We were confronted with this going out to lunch in Yountville with its Festival of Lights. Now being half-Jewish (if you must know, the right half - interpret that as will you) the Festival of Lights brings to mind something other than an adult female dressed as an elf singing holiday songs (read: Christmas) while confounding her diminutive co-singers who appeared to be small children. There was an effigy bear dancer of sorts, a fire truck, a silent auction, an ice sculpture of Frosty and lots of wine tasting. And, after 5:30, there was a festival of lights. There was a delightful showing from both the locals and us visitors and some good cheer.