Four Crossed Logs: A little stress drizzled with gravy

Here, have some gravy.

The holiday season is upon us.

Thank you, Thanksgiving; I’ll have one more buttered roll.

You know what’s coming: generous slices of pumpkin pie with dollops of heavy whipped cream, mounds of bread pudding dripping with vanilla rum sauce, stacks of thinly sliced white turkey drizzled with gravy, and mugs of warm apple cider and hot caramel coffee.

Dishes of food, silverware, glasses and mugs, bottles of wine and mingling family members clutter the kitchen for days, and leftovers are shoved to the back of the already overflowing refrigerators.

Not to mention, you’ll be sitting for hours, causally chatting with your delightful parents or in-laws, and watching the clock tick for your next nap.

Yes, the Thanksgiving holiday is nearly upon us, so be prepared to gain a little weight, sit around to chat, and justify every life decision you have ever made to your dear family.

What’s 5 pounds?

The Thanksgiving holiday may be slightly stressful for the college student.

Somehow, you’ve managed to store final exams in a compartment toward the back of your brain. Nevertheless, you’re dreading the upcoming month of being sprawled across the living room floor with stacks of books, containers of leftover Thanksgiving, and empty cans of energy drinks. Your activity level is about to hit an all-year low.

Really, how much is 5 pounds? Is it just enough to coat your late-semester anxiety with a pseudo layer of food indulged comfort? Or, is it just enough to bump your butt back into those dreaded emergency blue jeans on the top shelf, sending your self-esteem spiraling down an endless black hole?

I bring tidings of good news and great joy.

It’s all gravy.

You likely will not gain five pounds this holiday season. Instead, you might gain 1 pound, so that’s a relief. (“A Prospective Study of Holiday Weight Gain”)

Also, you’ll likely perform well on your final exams, that is, if you drench yourself in your textbooks and leftovers for the rest of the month.

Finally, let’s not forget about the election results. We can finally move forward with our lives and leave the dramatic election season behind us.

Regardless of whether your candidate won, mid- to late November is a time of rest for the political minded.

(I may still boast my favorite sweater this year.)

The Thanksgiving holiday can be particularly stressful for the college student, but at least you won’t gain five pounds or have to worry about the election anymore.