2008 Woodie Awards
Holiday rush is hurried
Race for Christmas takes off before Halloween cobwebs hit the floor
By: Kameel Stanley
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Voices
- Page 1 of 1
It's here! It's here!
Christmas is here!
Or didn't you get the memo?
Don't worry, I didn't either.
But that's OK, because there are plenty of people who did get the memo, and they have no problem reminding everyone else.
Or rather, they have no problem shoving it down all of our necks.
Case in point.
The other day, while on a nocturnal trip to Wal Mart, I realized how behind the times I am.
(Yes, I admit it. I love Super Wal-Mart. I'm one of those poor college students. I can't afford anything more than $20 and I buy as many items an I can off the clearance racks.)
Anyway, while strolling down the cereal aisle, I noticed something strange. Throughout the store, employees were working furiously to set up the next day's displays.
But they weren't loading the shelves with food or kitchen appliances.
Instead, they were stocking the store with fake trees, strings of multicolored lights, red hats and holiday stockings.
You guessed it. Christmas decorations.
Mind you, this was days - I repeat, days - after Halloween. The kids' candy-induced cavities have barely had time to settle in and rot a few teeth.
Is it just me, or do Christmas trees seem out of place? Halloween was just last week, and I haven't even started to process the next-best holiday - Thanksgiving - yet.
Maybe I just never paid that much attention, but I swear there was a time when holidays started and stopped in the same month they took place in.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas just as much as the next person.
Tis' the season to be jolly, and all that jazz, but do we need to be bombarded with it? There's plenty of time to get into the Christmas spirit.
On most normal days, I might come out against procrastinating and putting things off to the last minute.
As someone whose career is focused on deadlines, I can appreciate the value of being prepared.
But c'mon guys, is it really necessary to start the countdown to Christmas so early?
Dec. 25 is 49 days away. Thanksgiving is 15 days away.
Can we have a little break, please?
Apparently not, if the recently-erected displays at department stores are any indication.
Oh well, maybe I'm over-reacting, right?
Perhaps an ultra-commercialized Christmas is a good thing.
Maybe the "powers that be" are actually just looking out for us little people - making sure we don't forget about what is arguably one of the most important holidays.
Right. That must be the answer.
Excuse me. I have to go start shopping for Easter baskets now.
Christmas is here!
Or didn't you get the memo?
Don't worry, I didn't either.
But that's OK, because there are plenty of people who did get the memo, and they have no problem reminding everyone else.
Or rather, they have no problem shoving it down all of our necks.
Case in point.
The other day, while on a nocturnal trip to Wal Mart, I realized how behind the times I am.
(Yes, I admit it. I love Super Wal-Mart. I'm one of those poor college students. I can't afford anything more than $20 and I buy as many items an I can off the clearance racks.)
Anyway, while strolling down the cereal aisle, I noticed something strange. Throughout the store, employees were working furiously to set up the next day's displays.
But they weren't loading the shelves with food or kitchen appliances.
Instead, they were stocking the store with fake trees, strings of multicolored lights, red hats and holiday stockings.
You guessed it. Christmas decorations.
Mind you, this was days - I repeat, days - after Halloween. The kids' candy-induced cavities have barely had time to settle in and rot a few teeth.
Is it just me, or do Christmas trees seem out of place? Halloween was just last week, and I haven't even started to process the next-best holiday - Thanksgiving - yet.
Maybe I just never paid that much attention, but I swear there was a time when holidays started and stopped in the same month they took place in.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas just as much as the next person.
Tis' the season to be jolly, and all that jazz, but do we need to be bombarded with it? There's plenty of time to get into the Christmas spirit.
On most normal days, I might come out against procrastinating and putting things off to the last minute.
As someone whose career is focused on deadlines, I can appreciate the value of being prepared.
But c'mon guys, is it really necessary to start the countdown to Christmas so early?
Dec. 25 is 49 days away. Thanksgiving is 15 days away.
Can we have a little break, please?
Apparently not, if the recently-erected displays at department stores are any indication.
Oh well, maybe I'm over-reacting, right?
Perhaps an ultra-commercialized Christmas is a good thing.
Maybe the "powers that be" are actually just looking out for us little people - making sure we don't forget about what is arguably one of the most important holidays.
Right. That must be the answer.
Excuse me. I have to go start shopping for Easter baskets now.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
arb
posted 11/07/07 @ 9:19 AM EST
dude, wal-mart is the devil--didn't you know? you're putting downtown mt. pleasant out of business every time you go there. go rent the wal-mart: the high cost of low price and spend like 2% more to go to meijer instead. (Continued…)
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