Save Some Room for Turkey

I could not believe it when they started to move the costume aisles at Walmart. In an effort to squeeze in a few holiday decorations TWO WEEKS before Halloween had even occurred, busy store employees were condensing the treat bags, pumpkin carving kits, orange and black home décor and even children’s costumes into fewer rows. It made me sick.

Now, here we are a good two weeks before it is even time for turkey, and what do I see? There are fake Christmas trees, holiday lights, ornaments, stockings and even blow-up yard Santas. I kid you not, yesterday I saw one where Santa comes in and out of a mock outhouse. Why anyone needs that in his yard is beyond me…

But, it all makes me rather ill. I am just not ready for the holiday season. And, there is a good reason for that. It is only November! (Oh, and it was in the mid-70s outside this week. That likely isn't helping.)

I’m not sure when the dissolving of this month began, but I for one happen to like Thanksgiving. I saw a funny cartoon a few weeks back with a turkey threatening Old Saint Nick for taking his holiday. He asked him kindly (OK, at gunpoint) to wait his turn, that this was his month. I couldn’t agree more.

I love Thanksgiving. It is a time to relax. It is a wonderful gathering of food, family and friends to take a spare second to think of all you have to be thankful for over the past year.

Not a big shock, I guess then, that society has all but fizzled it out of existence. At a time when we are too busy to play with our kids, are focused more on Smartphones in our hands and pretend “friends” online than we are with real relationships before our very eyes, you’d think it is a time we’d need a day like Thanksgiving most. But alas, it seems to me many are trying to phase it out completely.

Doesn’t the commercial world get enough of our hard-earned dollars? Do they really need to extend the buying season a month earlier? We have to launch layaway now before we’ve even scrubbed off Halloween face paint? Seriously?

As I did my weekly grocery shopping this week, another alarming sound came into my ears. The jingling of that friendly little bell. It was Nov. 14! Salvation Army has also jumped on the bandwagon and decided that early November is now the time to start asking for donations.

I am all for the worthy cause, and think it is a great way to collect money. I even totally get the need. There are more folks than ever that need the support of the Army, but Nov. 14? It is supposed to be a Christmas holiday tradition. I should see jolly bell ringers in December… I’ll even give you Black Friday, but Nov. 14?

I for one refuse to purchase a single holiday gift before the usual deadline, Black Friday. I am not going to start my shopping or Christmas planning a minute before, so don’t even ask.

I hope that more will agree. Take a minute to celebrate Thanksgiving. I love Christmas, too, but I am not ready to ignore an entire month before it. Life passes us by quickly enough. Let’s not rush it.

Now, please pass me some stuffing.