by Garrison Frost

You placed well on the Fourth of July and pulled off a surprising third on Halloween. Now you want to follow that up with a good showing on Thanksgiving en route to a win come Christmas. This is your year, your moment to shine. You're taking this one. There's no room for losers come major holidays. After you seal this win, you're going to go for a repeat, then a three-peat. You want a holiday dynasty. You want it all.

Your years of previous defeats have taught you everything you need to know. You understand the different aspects of the game — the importance of sound strategy, physical strength and calm determination. Further, you know that the intangibles can make a difference. And you are loaded with intangibles.

To many, it will seem as if Thanksgiving is your goal, as others have made it theirs. You will pursue it with an aggressiveness never before seen. But you will never lose sight of your true goal. Winning Thanksgiving will be nice, if it happens, but it will never be more than your Golden Globe, your halftime lead, your league title on the way to the championship.

Your dogged pursuit of Thanksgiving will only be the beginning of something greater. Nevertheless, your turkey will be well-cooked but juicy, and will leave the oven right on time. Your side dishes will be perfectly synched with the progress of the bird. You will not forget the rolls in the oven.

Your pies will seem to be a treasure trove of flavors. Only you will know that your presentation of so many different pies will actually constitute a test of your guests' palate. Whichever pie they focus on will be the featured dessert at your Christmas dinner.

But you know that dinner will only be a part of your winning Christmas. This biggest of holidays will involve several other events as well.

First, there will be the decorations, a combination of clever crafts and store-bought masterpieces that would force even Martha Stewart to topple her own king. There will be lights to cause an energy crisis, garlands forever and animated Santas, elves and reindeer. Your tiny village will fill an entire room.

You will start your conquest by dominating the often underappreciated Christmas eve — many fail to recognize the points that can be accrued here. Then, of course, there will be the crucial gift exchange with its subcategories of generosity, humility and sympathy.

A perfect breakfast will follow, leading to the perfect walk through your perfect breezy, crisp town in perfect new clothes. Then will come your dinner, with its victory lap for dessert.

Oh yes, this year you will win Christmas, and all the others will tremble at your feet.

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