What month is this? Christmas is closer than you think

It’s that time of year again. The tinsel is out and the decorations are everywhere. Thoughts of Santa and Jesus’ birthday are in the air. Hey wait a minute? What month is this? Not quite October if my memory is correct. So why is it that I am thinking about Christmas? Maybe it’s because at Cracker Barrel the other night, my daughter picked out a couple of Christmas ornaments from one of the trees they had on display. Maybe it’s because I have to start thinking about getting those holiday pictures together. After all, we need to set up the photo time. Pick out the pictures. Wait for them to come back from the photographer. Get them all addressed and sent in the mail. All in the next twelve weeks. Sounds like a lot of time but how quickly it goes by. Oh, and don’t forget the Christmas shopping. All of our family lives in the Great Northwest (Oregon and Washington to be exact). I need to pick out the best gift. Get it wrapped and packaged for mailing. Then get it in the mail. I love decorating the outside of the packages. Sometimes the packaging is more fun than what’s inside. That is if I do it early. That’s why I have the time to find that sparkly bracelet to add onto the bow for my nieces’ gift or add that action figure to the package for my little brother. Or perhaps scour the stores for the ultimate Portland Trailblazer’s toy to affix to the package of my older brother’s box. He’s a total Blazer fan. It happens some years. I wait. Then I wait some more. I look at the calendar as the days tick by. Eight more weeks ‘til Christmas, then six, then four. Before I know it I’m taping the packages with masking tape and tossing them into the box for overnight delivery. Even though I was totally annoyed the first time I saw Christmas Decorations for sale at Wal-Mart in August, it did jar my memory on how quickly time goes by. I’ve found that the earlier I try to get things done for the holidays, the sooner I can enjoy the holidays. Visiting friends, baking Christmas cookies with my kids and reflecting on the real reason for the holiday. Am I alone? I’d love to hear your feedback on how you prepare for the holidays. Send me an email at Michele@seymourherald.com. Oh, and Merry Christmas!