I was angry a week ago when I walked in Target and a HUGE sign wished me a Merry Christmas.  You all know well that it's not even Thanksgiving, and I have always been morally opposed to anything Christmas-y before we slice the turkey.  But it seems I am behind the times, friend, because the Christmas season now certainly appears to begin the moment you come out your candy-induced Halloween coma.

Can you imagine what happened today when the "soft" radio station was churning out the holiday melodies?  OUTRAGE!  That is, until my grinch-like heart started to grow.  Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  Why should I stand in the way of a few more weeks of Christmas bliss?  My only trouble with this is that the Christmas season is honestly all about celebrating a lost world's salvation.  Let's try to think of that year-round!  But the reason the "Christmas season" starts so early is so Target can squeeze a few extra dollars out of my budget that's already stuffed tighter than the prize turkey.

But I gave up the fight, and let Bing and Elvis -- bidding me a White and Blue Christmas, respectively -- serenade me into retail paradise where I thought about how each of the twinkling pre-lit trees would look beneath my new vaulted ceilings this holiday season. Soon I was swept away by thoughts of mom and dad, friends and family surrounding me soon for, as cliche as it is, the most wonderful time of the year.

Look out, Grandma, cuz I think the reindeer are on the way.