How Soon is Too Soon?

Hurry! St. Patrick’s Day’s Coming!

  One of the most insightful things my mother ever said was Don’t wish your life away.
Now at my age where it seems as if I’m flipping the calendar every two weeks instead of four weeks, I finally realize what she meant.
And while I realize I can’t slow down time, it doesn’t help when people”or especially businesses”dvance time to suit themselves.
Example?
I was on Route 102 just entering Meadville at the beginning of September (September 2nd”to be exact), when I spotted my first Halloween decoration: a plastic skeleton tacked onto a front door. Now while it’s hard to fault the homeowners for their premature decorating since Halloween is my favorite season, too, it nonetheless seemed¦just too early. Yes, summer was over, Labor Day had just passed and the kids are back to school, but to me, decorations too soon takes the fun of the season. I love Halloween,
too, but I don’t want to see jack o’ lanterns in August.

  While I can dismiss a personal faux pas of someone who wants to celebrate the season a little early, it’s harder to exempt the

faceless corporations that promote the seasons and celebrations well ahead of their times.

Another example?

  I was in a Dollar General near September’s end and Christmas knickknacks were already placed within an aisle”skipping ahead two holidays.

  Now I can rationalize forgoing Thanksgiving; there’s really nothing to promote except for dish towels and pot holders with turkeys printed with some goofy wordplay and maybe nearby cans of cranberry sauce, but Halloween was almost a month away.

  And while All Hallow’s Eve only benefits the candy and costume industries, Christmas benefits all manufacturers and benefits the stores that sell their goods.

But can’t they at least wait until mid-November?

  By promoting seasonal items and playing seasonal Muzak in every establishment”be it a grocery store or gas station”by the time the holiday in question actually rolls around, everyone just wants to be done with it.

  Late in October The Saturday Evening Post arrived at my home with its November-December edition. Featured on its cover was a pine tree covered in snow. I guess it’s supposed to make readers feel
all warm and cozy, but for someone like me who has to drive in potentially iffy winter weather six days a week, it struck an ominous chord in my brain. What no Norman Rockwell retread of a family at
Thanksgiving?

  Finally, though not a holiday and not dependent upon money to sustain it, I spotted a recreational place outside of Albion that would put retailers to shame for its promotion of its next upcoming event.

  Dirty Cherry Mudd’n, a family-friendly place that features off roading 4×4 trucks, Jeeps, ATVs and more since 2014, recently posted on its sign near its entrance that its next event would be¦ (Are you ready?) May 2024!

  Congrats Big Cherry! Skipping past New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and even Cinco de Mayo, you’re way ahead of the retailers.

Maybe I can find a present for them when I’m Christmas shopping next week!

***The Shunpiker