Giving Santa the Bum's Rush

Two weeks before Christmas and in my little patch of the retail universe, it's already a fete accompli.

Yesterday I went into two sizeable retail establishments (let's not be coy, I'm talking about you: Home Depot and Kmart) expecting a wonderland of lit trees, garlands, ornaments...all the fa la la my holiday heart desired.  And what to my wondering eyes did appear???  NADA.  Remnants.  Heaped in bins, tossed on shelves festooned with sale stickers.  Ghosts of Christmas not yet past.  Instead of tinsel and holly there were barbeque grills (Home Depot) and Valentine pink bears (Kmart).  Move along, move along.  Nothing festive to see here.  Santa has left the building.

I left each store feeling bereft.  Did I sleep through it all?  Had Christmas come and gone without my knowing?

I yearn for the time when retail was in sync with the calendar.  Giving Santa the bum's rush two weeks before Christmas is just wrong and deserves a lump of coal.

Penny Pincher