I’m writing this note the week before Thanksgiving – the printing schedules for our products always require an early deadline around the holiday season – but it’s still hard to believe that another year is drawing to a close.
But our printing schedule isn’t the only thing that seems to be jumping the holiday deadline. As I’ve traveled around the greater Springfield area in the evenings recently, I’ve noticed more and more homes have already put up their Christmas trees and displays of holiday lights.
It seems many of my fellow neighbors “need a little Christmas, right this very minute...” as the famous song from the 1966 Broadway Musical “Mame” proclaims.
That song was written to reflect the fact that the title character, Mame, had just lost her fortune in the 1929 stock market crash, and felt she and her nephews needed “a little cheering up.” It seems to fit the mood of so many as we close 2022 as well.
From the specter of war in Europe brought on by the Ukrainian crisis, to the continued resurgences of COVID-19 variants, to the RSV outbreak that has affected so many young ones, to the economic strain of higher fuel and food prices – not to mention the country’s political divisions – I can understand the sentiment.
We could all use a little cheering up right now.
And here’s where I hope this issue of Prime can help.
With the return of so many in-person events this year, we’ve been able to bring back a more robust listing of area and regional holiday happenings than Prime has printed for the past two holiday seasons.
You’ll find plenty of things to see and do to help you get into – or continue to enjoy – that holiday spirit from the day after Thanksgiving through early January.
And, because the economic strain is something that’s a real effect on holiday budgets for many this year, you’ll find at least a dozen events in our annual listing that are free of charge this season, marked with an asterisk and highlighted in red. Most Springfield Museum holiday events are also free to city residents with a valid photo ID.
It’s a small thing, but I hope that it will help bring a little joy to those who might be struggling financially a bit more this season.
And if you are concerned about the aspect of gathering everyone together again after so many Zoom holidays, Prime also has some advice for smoothing over those hot-button and generational issues for a more harmonious holiday. Check out our Three Big Questions this month.
As always, I and everyone at Reminder Publishing and Prime thank you for reading our papers and wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.
Debbie Gardner
