Can I get a holiday break?

So, I’m a little late in writing about this, but I felt that it should be mentioned. I think I was reminded about my frustration when I had a late Christmas celebration this past weekend with my family.

Christmas is not the problem this time. No. It’s Valentine’s Day.

I remember walking through the store on New Year’s Eve – NEW YEAR’S EVE – and there was already Valentine’s Day candy on the aisles.

What? Why was that already out and 2017 hadn’t even ended yet?

I just don’t get it. Seriously? Why should I be thinking about candy and red hearts when I just barely got over reindeer and a man in a red suit?

A few years ago, I wrote a column about this same topic, but about the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season.

Black Friday deals were opening up online this past year for shoppers, well, I think right after Halloween.

Christmas music was playing in stores before turkey decorations were even put out, it seemed.

I’m just about exhausted with holidays because of this.

I know that stores are trying to take advantage of early sales with products dedicated to big holidays, but can you give me a break? Just a week, please.

I might be enticed to buy more of your frou-frou holiday stuff (and I used frou-frou in the best of ways) if you would just let me breathe before you put it out.

Also, think about how much you’re hurting people by doing this.

New Year’s resolutions have just been made. According to statista.com, the most common New Year’s resolutions for 2018 were eating healthier (37 percent), get more exercise (37 percent) and save more money (37 percent).

Now, let’s think. Is candy a good alternative for, say, an apple? A banana? A salad?

No, it is not. So, there goes one of the top resolutions made for 2018.

If you eat the candy, you may get a sugar high and run around the room, depending on how you react to sugar. So, the get-more-exercise thing may not apply to my column here.

However, the third top resolution is to save more money. Think about all the money you could save if you weren’t tempted by all the Valentine’s Day candy you can find on the shelves the day after Christmas.

This whole putting merchandise out to remind us of the next holiday three months in advance is not good for the soul, the mind or the wallet.

Can I just have a break to appreciate the holiday I just made it through before you throw the next one in my face?

Cassie Gibbs is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].