I got mildly depressed today...

[MinnesotaMike]

I went in to Menard's, and they are already clearing out the Christmas decorations. The area was about cut in half, and they already took down all the sample light strings that were hanging from the ceiling. My stomach sank as I was faced with the reality that the holidays will disappear as quickly as they came.

[Merry Christmas Darling]

Hobby Lobby is minus a lot of Christmas stock, too. They have very few Christmas cards left, and not many boxed ornaments. And they're putting out the spring decorations!

I don't want Christmas to be over!

[ornamentmaven]

Walmart's Xhristmas section was devoured on Black Friday. They still have wrapping paper and bows - but few lights and ornaments!

[MinnesotaMike]

Yeah...I've noticed everywhere I have gone that the selection of Christmas LIGHTS is extremely picked-over. I wonder if stores just opted to stock less this year, or if that many more people actually purchased new lights. It kind of puts a damper on my plan to stock up for next year's yard display after Christmas!

[JollyElfDC]

I remember when I was living in Toronto. Simpsons (Now the Bay) used to do a huge Christmas section on one of the top floors. I used to love to go up there and just look. All the sections were themed to the style of decorations. Once around this time of year I was really not feeling the season at all, so I thought I would go check out the Christmas section at Simpsons. What a disappointment. It was a shadow of what it had been just a few weeks before. They had already started taking the displays down and what was left was a disorganized mess.Needless to say it didn't put me in a festive mood.

[Crazymike1965]

Ditto........

Someone else from my hone town
JollyElfDC. I have spent a lot of money at that particular Bay store over the years

I am doing my best to try and enjoy the week leading up to Christmas as well as trying to take everything in. I have to admit that in my effort to decorate for the holidays that I do not have the time to appreciate everything...

[SilverBells]

...My stomach sank as I was faced with the reality that the holidays will disappear as quickly as they came.

I get that feeling every year. The holiday season doesn't last long enough for me

[Sam the snowman]

All right people, I understand what you all mean but we should take a step back while we can...it is one week until the big day and it is time to soak it all in!
I have a few more things to pick up and a whole lot of wrapping to do but once that is done that is the time I enjoy best !
Knowing everything can't be more ready for Santa's arrival...

I like to sit up at night (after everyone has gone to bed) ,with the Cristmas tree lite, just listen to Christmas music or watch ,Alistair Sims, Scrooge.

Sipping my "christmas blend" coffee I reminisce of times when I was young and the excitment that Christmas brought to me.

It is something I have done for years and love to do it to this day...I suggest the same to all of you ...take this week and live it to it's fullest and don't let the commercialism control how Christmas makes you feel.

[Mistletoe]

How depressing!!

Thanks Sam, for redirecting our thoughts.

[Sam the snowman]

All is good!
We only get a short time to escape lifes grind and Christmas gives us of that .

Last night my wife and I did a secret Santa drop off for a co-workers of mine that is going threw a ruff patch and today on Facebook his wife put this up...


Thank you to the secret Santa that made my kids Christmas SPECTACULAR instead of just good.....God Bless you and know that you have made my faith shine just a little bit brighter this year♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


It just puts your heart in the right place!