Yep.  I laughed too.  And I laugh each time I read it.

I've become more and more dismayed each year as the stores put out their Christmas displays earlier and earlier.  This year, I've noticed the Hallmark stores are already putting out their ornaments and the craft stores have aisles cleared to devote to the many boxes already sitting in said aisles marked Christmas and Made in China on them.

Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with the way stores make money.  I like capitalism, what I don't like is dealing with a holiday before its time. I like to get though one holiday before I have to deal with another one. For instance, there is still Labor Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day and That Day we all eat Turkey and Watch Football.  All of those days come before Christmas, at least on my calendar.  Maybe retail runs by a different calendar than we do?  I mean with spring clothes coming out at Christmas, and Fall clothes coming out in the Spring, they must have a secret calendar they don't share with the rest of us.

What it does do for me is change how I feel about holidays.  I'm the first one to say that while I'm a spiritual person I'm not religious in the expected way.  I do feel the pull of holidays and celebrating certain times of the year.  However, with the stores advocating so strongly that it's stuff that makes the holiday special, it's really turning me off to the holiday and making less special and magical.  Christmas is probably the biggest culprit of this.

So, for any of you shopping anywhere in Central Pennsyltucky, if you come across a manger scene complete with zombies in it, I've probably been there.  If there is also a post it note attached to the manger with "Aim for the head, Baby Jeebus!"  I was definitely there.