Is it my imagination or has the Christmas season arrived a little early this year?

I know, I know…

We always say that Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year. Retailers are always doing their best to get us in that “holiday” spirit so they can start seeing their favorite color of the season…green and lots of it!

But this year it seems different.

I already feel like I’m behind!

We’ve been enjoying a beautiful stretch of weather here in Minnesota the past week. Temps have been consistently in the 60’s and we’ve had no rain. Golf courses are still open, people are out jogging or going for a walk or a bike ride. We cherish these days because we know what is in store for us.

But instead of enjoying one of the above mentioned activities, I’ve seen several people putting up their Christmas lights. Believe me, I get why they want to do it on a warm day!

I know I’ll pay for it later on!

My lights are still packed away someplace, waiting to be untangled from last year when I was freezing and in a rush just to get the darn things off of the trees and shrubs and put away! I don’t know for sure, but I think the temperature was somewhere around zero on the day I performed that task!

I could have cared less if those lights were stored neatly and orderly!

So, I have that to look forward to!

Maybe that’s why I decided to “procrastinate” a little and enjoy the weather! But can you really call it “procrastination” if you wait ’till Thanksgiving to get your CHRISTMAS lights up!

I was in a mall yesterday, picking up a new winter coat for my son and as you might expect, I felt like I had magically wandered into the “North Pole”! Christmas decorations everywhere, Santa’s workshop in place, even though I think some of his elves still looked tan!

Sounds of the season were playing everywhere.

Hey, wasn’t I just passing out Halloween candy a couple of days ago?

I think I may have even heard the word, “door buster” in an TV ad or two!

Can’t we slooooow down just a little?

Okay, here’s my plan…

I’m going to enjoy the last few days of warmth, wait until it’s good and cold, bundle up like I always do, unpack my tangled, unorganized lights, spend an afternoon decorating the outside of my house, enjoy a Thanksgiving Day dinner and then start on the decorations on the inside!

We’ve even decided to go with a “real” tree this year! (How “Clark Griswold” of me!)

Work on the Christmas cards.

Get all of the shopping done.

Attend a few holiday parties.

Attend church services.

And above all…

Relax and enjoy the Holiday Season with my friends and family!