Holiday Creep

Ok there is at least on retailer that I support.

This notion that we should be celebrating Christmas in September is infuriating to me.  We can't get past one holiday before we're not just 1 but 2 holidays ahead at the retail outlets.  Easter candy will be out before you know it.  My wife hates walking into Walmart with me when they put the Christmas rows up before Halloween.  I want to go down each row knocking down every item on the shelves. 

This week a partition went up to Target asking that they not allow the "Holiday Creep" to invade their employees family time.  Target is one of the many retailers opening up on Thanksgiving Day, vice the Black Friday day after.  I totally support the person whom started that (and the many others that have followed).

Targets response is that our customers told us they wanted us to open earlier.  Crack addicts want crack too, but you do give in to their wants.  Someone HAS to take a stand!!!

This is one of the 2 days a year that use to be held sacred in our society. It was family time.  Even with the fights and all, it was a time for kin folks and friends to gather, eat way to much, watch football, sit around telling stories of 'remember when we....' and so forth.  No retailer would of even considered crossing that line 10 - 15 years ago.

So now we have......nope, not even then is retailer free...so we're down to 0 (that's a zero) days that are family days now.  And we wonder why we have such a high divorce rate, why so many of our youth are in trouble, why stress levels are off the charts, and why parents don't have a clue what their kids are doing.

To me it's bad enough that schools no long honor those which use to be traditional holidays. But now the rest of society has turned each holiday into a cash cow and our kids don't have a clue what they stand for even.   Growing up Memorial day, Labor Day, Veterans day, Presidents Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas were all family days.  Picnics,  parades, BBQs, flags, cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents were staples on those days.  Today they are just another day of school or work. 

There is a solution to all this, but it would take discipline on our citizens parts, something that also has slipped in our society.  But the solution is that everyone stay home Thanksgiving.  Don't go shopping.  Wait till Friday morning to go buy all those Christmas gifts.  Watch a movie with the family.  Sit around the table and talk, laugh, have a glass of wine or what ever, just don't go shopping.

When the retailers put up Easter candy before Christmas is here, or Christmas before Halloween, DON'T buy anything from those aisle till after the holiday before is totally over with.  If all of a sudden those because the slowest moving aisles in the store the stores will change their strategy. 

I agree with Nordstroms, I want to celebrate one holiday at a time, and I want to celebrate it fully before I move to the next season.  Kudos to Nordstroms for taking a stand.  In support I promise to buy something from Nordstroms this season for under the tree.  But don't worry, I won't do it till after Thanksgiving.

God Bless,
Dennis

Veterans Day 2012

This has not been an easy weekend for me.  It's been Veterans Day 2012 weekend.  I've attended 3 events with the Boy Scouts for Veterans Day.  For those who don't know it's the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War this year.  But that's not what has been so tough on me.

I've never really cared much for Veterans Day.  I feel uncomfortable receiving recognition for not being extraordinary.  My generation had a few skirmishes and the start of Desert Storm, but I didn't have to go through a WWII.  I wasn't rejected as the Vietnam Veterans were on their return.  And I never saw terrorist actions like the young men in Afghanistan or the middle east.  So I'd much rather the attention go to those that do deserve it.   

But this year Taps has a more eerie sound for me.  It's always struck a chord in my heart, but this year, 2012, it's shook me to the core every time I've heard it.  You see, this is the first Veterans Day since one of the heros of WWII passed away, my grandfather Capt. William F. Nesser.  He wasn't in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard.  He was in the Merchant Marines.  He went where our Coast Guard and Navy wouldn't even think of going.  His command went to Russia and points between where u-boats were peppering the waters.

I remember back in the 80's when the Government recognized the Merchant Marines, my grandfather was elated to hold the title of veteran.  He received medals from the governments of France and Russia for his efforts in delivering goods to their countries, but the thing he was proudest of was his DD214 releasing him from military service and making him a veteran.  At his funeral the Navy played taps and handed the family a flag in his honor.  He deserved every bit of it. 

Recently the WWII museum in New Orleans had a display of my grandfathers maritime goods from his time in service and travels around the world.  The article is here if you're interested in reading about him and the museum.

Just weeks before he passed away they spent a day interviewing him about his adventures.  The stories I heard over the last 20 or so years about trips to Russia, watching explosions on the horizon as his buddies ships were blown up and watching them sink, politics over where the cargo ships were to go, and many others are held for my childrens children to remember what this man was part of.  I'm sure I've forgotten as many stories as I remember, but I remember many of them.

WWII vets are becoming fewer and fewer.  My grandfather was 92, and he was a young man when the war started.  If you know a veteran, especially a WWII veteran, make sure you take the time and listen to them.  Hear their stories of adventure of battles and sorrow of losses of their best friends.  It's time you'll never regret.   And honestly I can't think of anything a veteran would want more than to spend a few minutes telling another generation of their hardships and their victories. It really is a great way to pay honor and tribute for all they went through.

God Bless, and may He guide our country and put a protective hand over all the young men and women still in harms way protecting our freedoms.

Dennis Nesser