One of the best Christmas gifts I received in the past several years was the book “The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog” by Dave Barry.

Anyone who wants to laugh and a quick read of roughly four hours, should invest in this purchase.

One of the best lines in the book comes when Barry talks about Christmas Eve.

He writes that Dec. 24 is the best day of the year because everything is about to happen, but it hasn’t happened yet.

I tend to agree.

Growing up, Christmas Eve was always my favorite holiday as everyone seemed to be filled with joy and excitement as Christmas Day was right around the corner.

And to me it was even more about the giving than the receiving.

But as Thanksgiving gets closer this year, I find myself thinking I may have a new favorite holiday.

Thanksgiving is probably better than Christmas in a lot of ways.

Everyone seems to be in the giving spirit, from donating toys to those in need to donating canned goods and money to local organizations such as the United Way and the Salvation Army.

And it’s also about giving thanks for what we have.

Thanksgiving just may be the perfect holiday.

It’s a time to eat too much, a time to watch football, a time to spend with family and a time to give thanks, all during a day that has very little commercialism attached to it.

In the end, Christmas Eve still may be my favorite holiday, but Thanksgiving is a close second.