It's beginning to look a lot like....Christmas?

Of course, Christmas is right around the corner...after all isn't fall going to begin soon?

So time to start discounting the Halloween candy and costumes, squeeze in some turkey sales....Santa Claus is coming to town.  In September.

I refuse to believe this but a co-worker told me she was in the mall over the weekend, and a local store of a major retail chain department store has their Christmas stuff up.

Years and years ago I read a story called "Happy Birthday Dear Jesus" by the science fiction author Frederik Poul.  Mr. Poul (who will turn 90 in November) had a period in the 1950's and 1960's when he wrote a lot about consumerism gone wild - including a novel called "The Space Merchants" which foretold the future of advertising-a bit scarily.

 As I recall it (and it's been many years) "Happy Birthday Dear Jesus" was about a retail world where Christmas was merchandised almost all year round, and a woman who wouldn't accept that.

I can identify.  Why does retail keep trying to rush the seasons?  Isn't there a time for everything?

As for me, I'll enjoy the apples and the foliage.  I'm glad I was able to enjoy an almost perfect three days of late summer weather.

So Christmas in September?  Bah humbug.