Confession. I get really annoyed when I see Halloween,Thanksgiving and Christmas merchandise cohabitating on the shelves of every store I visit. And, too often they are joined by end of summer clearance and back-to-school supplies!

Whatever happened to seasons?

In their efforts to maximize profits, our retailers have trapped us into “planning ahead” which all but robs us of the joy of today. I suppose it’s a byproduct of the technology age. Can we really call this progress?

Where are the days when moms scrounged through closets to pull together the items needed to create a costume for the little ones to wear as they went from one neighbor’s house to the next collecting candy and saying “thank you”?

Whatever happened to the simple things?

Where are the days when the family, the whole family gathered around the table as they gave thanks for and enjoyed mom’s turkey and dressing, aunt Sally’s squash casserole, cousin Laura’s sweet potatoes and grandma’s pumpkin pie. Always lingering there for a while to hear uncle George’s stories of the loves and lives of loved ones whose chairs are now empty?

Whatever happened to our doing life together?

Where are the days when the long awaited Sears ”wish book” arrived in the mail (that’s US mail, not email)? Kids, moms and dads would all pour over its glossy pages, folding them to mark what they hoped to find under the tree on Christmas morning.

Whatever happened to anticipation?

Don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of technology. As a matter of fact it was my cell phone which motivated me to write this post. While going from one room to the next, carrying my phone with me, as always, it dawned on me that it hasn’t been that many years since extension phones and answering machines in our homes were the thing; how much simpler life seemed then. That prompted me to ask my husband his thoughts on the subject. He uh-hued in agreement while barely looking up from whatever he was watching on his own phone!

Whatever happened to conversation?

I know. We can’t go back, we never can. But wouldn’t it be wonderful, even if only for a day, to try?

Whatever happened to trying?

Grace and Peace,