Publisher column: Let's have the Christmas tree debate

By Randy Capps

On Monday, Sept. 6, something happened at the Capps house that probably didn’t happen in too many other places around Johnston County.

We put up our Christmas tree. Now, this is an annual source of amusement for my friends on Facebook and it plays out as follows:

“Wow, that’s too early to put up a tree.” Or, “hey, what about Halloween?”

Some folks even post passive aggressive memes about a cartoon turkey telling Santa to stay on his page of the calendar. Other creative, free thinkers admire our creativity.

My theory is a simple one. If, by the simple act of getting a tree out of our storage unit and rearranging our living room, I can be a little happier, why would I wait until Thanksgiving?

Sitting in my chair at night, when everyone else is sleeping or otherwise occupied, I can squint my eyes a bit while I watch the tree spin. Yes, our tree spins. But that’s a column for another day.

It’s a simple thing, but it always makes me smile. And I don’t know about you guys, but when I find a surefire way to be happy in this crazy world, I’m doing it for as often and as long as I can.

Hence, the Labor Day tree tradition. Now, we haven’t put up the porch lights, the stockings or the Christmas dragon yet. We’re not crazy.

Wait. You mean you don’t have a Christmas dragon? You should get one. They’re fun.

So, while the rest of you drink pumpkin spice lattes and carve up pumpkins, I’m going to watch football in my living room with my rotating tree.

Do whatever it takes to find joy, my friends. As Buddha once said, “there is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.”