I know everyone complains that Christmas advertising gets earlier every year . . . but the day after Halloween? I think Thanksgiving is being squeezed out!

On Saturday morning, I went about my regular errands, only to be confronted with dancing Santas and Christmas music in the mall . . . on November 1st?

I thought maybe it’s just Macy’s here at the Beverly Center. There wasn’t much else going on there.

But then that evening, I was flipping channels and all I saw were Toys R Us and Target commercials — extolling the virtues of early holiday shopping.

Even the local “news” has gotten in on the act. “Reporters” were actually suggesting that if we have ‘must have’ items on our list — get them early. They’ve suggested that I’m likely to spend at least $1700 dollars this season because the economy’s so good — not bloody likely.

Over the last few years I’ve found that the holiday season ends up being one of broken hopes. The gifts you give to people are never personalized enough, expensive enough, or good enough to fulfill their ideal of the ‘right’ holiday gift. Shopping on November 1st as opposed to December 24th isn’t going to make that any better.

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