Went to Walmart and as soon as I entered, I was greeted with a bin full of pumpkins! Fall is my face! I know I shouldn’t be surprised, it is after Labor Day after all. The school buses are running their routes and Dunkin Donuts are advertising lattes. But, where are the mums? I haven’t seen the mums just yet.

Back in the old days the season were marked by the changes in the weather. We could look at the sky, the sun and moon, and determine the season. In the modern world we just depend upon retail. What is being hawked at the moment? That season or holiday is only a few months away.

When I was just a young kid I remember Mom getting excited for the white sales! They were held in January to boost sales immediately after Christmas. Bed linens were the featured items. Back then sheets only came in white, there weren’t any fancy prints or vibrant colors.

The only other big sales I remember was at Halloween. The Rexall drug store had their one cent sale. Buy one can of shaving cream at the regular price, get the second one for a penny! There were other items, like bars of soap included in that deal.

I purchased a “countdown to Christmas” fireplace some years back. Every year I get it out and start that countdown. It will begin 20 days from now. The countdown begins 1 October. It has become somewhat of a tradition. It’s a Hallmark! I did purchase it at the Hallmark store. “When you care enough to send the very best.” A slogan in constant use since 1944!

Well, retail really knows no season. The closest thing retail recognizes would be “Black Friday” but those sales have been expanded greatly over the last few years. It’s not just Friday or a weekend anymore, might be at almost any time. It strikes me as rather ironic; we went from white sales to black Friday. And now, no more pennies so no more one cent sales, it will have to be a five-cent sale. Of course, I remember the 5&10 cent store. They sold pumpkins too.