Ack! I Just Saw My First Retail Christmas Tree Display and It's Only September

RACINE -- As I write this, it is the evening of Sep. 29, 2016. The air outside is a little crisp after a light rainfall, our furnace kicked in for one of the first times this season, and I've just seen my first retail Christmas tree display.

I was walking through my local Menards picking up a small assortment of handyman stuff on a late-night shopping run, when I saw it. My reaction was part bemusement, and part ice cream headache.

Where deck and patio arrangements once stood, now contained a budding forest of plastic, vinyl and wire trees, a tangle of surge protectors, a small village of step ladders and stacks of miniature lights waiting to be placed on shelves.

Maybe this is the new normal. Or maybe it's a store manager eager to make up for a flat 2016 in sales. Maybe it's a little of both.

Crazytown

It's 87 days until Christmas as I write this article, and it got me thinking ... if all holiday preparations began this far ahead of time, what would my town look like?

Lets's examine.

We would set up our Halloween decorations on Aug. 4, just in time for the beginning of Green Bay Packer Training Camp.

Seems legit.

We'd set up our Independence Day decorations as winter begins to give way to spring on April 8.

Maybe a little too early.

On New Year's eve, it's time to get those Easter Eggs dyed and the candy corn out. Where's that Easter dress when you need it?

Yikes.

It's time for School! Get the Thanksgiving Turkey at your local grocer on Aug. 29.

Backpack? Check. Stuffing? Check.

Ultimately, It's Okay.

Way back when I was a kid, seeing Christmas decorations appear on store shelves around Thanksgiving was exciting and felt a bit scandalous. Back then, I remember hearing about how pushy retailers were being with their holiday sales.

As I got older, the Black Friday shopping phenomenon exploded, then settled into some semblance of normalcy as online shopping meant more moms and dads shopped in their PJs instead of waiting in long lines outside for deals.

As an adult I even rationalized seeing Halloween and Christmas decorations because, hey, if you can catch a good deal while it's early, then why not.

As an older adult with two elementary school-aged children, the commercial hype surrounding the holidays has turned into a blurry tableau. It tries constantly to call attention to itself and ultimately failing, unless illuminated by the fleeting interests of my kids.

And ultimately, it's okay. Some night in November or December is going to come along, and I'll be at a Target or Toys 'R Us on an emergency shopping run. I'll be bleary-eyed and on the phone with my wife, sending iPhone pictures along to see if I picked up the right LEGO set, correct Minecraft T-Shirt or American Girl doll.

And months from now, (88 days to be exact) when the recycle bin refuses to take on any more wrapping paper and cardboard boxes, I'll know it all managed to work out somehow.