When We Were Young

This may be a phenomenon that's unique to me, and if so, then I apologize for this sidetrack.

I find very few instances where I make any sort of "when I was young" sort of statements. Mainly because I don't feel I'm nearly old enough for that to be endearingly cute yet. The other reason is that I'd like to think I'm aware enough to realize the evolution of time, and the cyclical nature of all things.

That being said, does anyone else find it odd the way Christmas just keeps creeping earlier and earlier every year?

I don't even have children yet, and still I see the sneaking effects of this every time. When I was young, the decorations that pop up in the malls, and in parking lots and things like that didn't show up until the weekend after Thanksgiving. That's what Black Friday was all about - the opening of the official shopping frenzy floodgates.

Whether you condone the commercialization of a religious holiday is one thing. Maybe you're okay with it, like I am, because you realize that it's actually a pagan holiday, and the proper time to celebrate Jesus' birth is in January or April, depending on what you read --->If you're interested in some interesting secular observations on that, here's one sampling.

Anyway, what I'm getting on about is the way that the cobwebs and ghosts were hardly swept away before there were Christmas trees and garland slung from every available nook and cranny of every storefront.

As I've grown older, I realize that there's a lot of planning that's involved with actually buying the Christmas presents, and not just receiving them. I'm willing to accept that as adults, we're obligated to become planning coordinators juggling our schedules with family gatherings, holiday parties, and special events. If you throw in some traditions that you or your family like to maintain, then you've definitely got to start thinking about things ahead of time.

What I don't understand is why we have to rush it? I love Christmas time. You could leave the decorations up all year, and I wouldn't be complaining. I just think that the ninja-like strike of the stores and malls makes people panic, and frantic is no way to enjoy this time of year.

I know that it's not going to change. The time will continue to creep earlier. Heck, one of my favorite movies might actually help them, because "The Nightmare Before Christmas" combines Christmas and Halloween.

I would love a return to simpler times, and, dare I say it, slower times. When there was a glow and softness to even the air itself on winter nights, and you could enjoy them by the flicker of a fireplace. I've already seen the sea of humanity crashing on the shores of commerce at my local mall, and in King of Prussia. Maybe internet shopping will actually help cut down on some of the hustle and bustle.

I want people to slow down, and not speed their lives up in the coming months. I hope that anyone reading this can make an effort to put on the brakes when things get whirling, and try to savor the goodness that can be found in this season...