Charlie Brown Already?

We had the t.v. on tonight in the other room, and I heard unmistakeable sounds. I didn't believe my ears because it's simply too early for the Charlie Brown Christmas Special to be on t.v. Maybe it's just a promo, I thought. Maybe it's a clip someone is showing. But the clock was right at eight o'clock, and sure enough, there it was.

Early in the show, Charlie Brown tells Linus that it just doesn't feel like Christmas. I understand. It's still November, Thanksgiving was this past Thursday, and everybody's still in school. It doesn't feel like Christmas because it isn't close to Christmas yet. I'm willing to concede that maybe they are showing the special this early because of the writer's strike or something, and if memory serves me, it seems that they might show it twice some years, but come on, it's way too early for this, isn't it?

Don't get me wrong. I watched the whole show. I love that show. It's a treat every time. I love Snoopy's clowning and Lucy's materialism and that pathetic little tree that Charlie Brown thinks he killed. But my favorite part is always when Linus steps onto the stage and gives the true meaning of Christmas. Was anybody listening to Linus? Ever?

I've just looked on Wikipedia, and it says that the special is shown a few times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'd like to watch it again this year, but maybe some time in December will be nice.