Don’t rush the Spiced Pumpkin Latte!
A first-world issue has been bothering me, and it began when I saw a display for Spiced Pumpkin Lattes — in the middle of August. Retailers have sensed our weakness for all things autumnal and know everyone in America is addicted to, and will purchase, anything that smells or tastes like Farmer Brown’s harvest.
By November 1st, half of the PTA and all of the Junior League members will smell like they rolled in cinnamon and rode to the meeting in Cinderella’s spiced-up pumpkin. From the pumpkin tarts on the dessert table to the scented hair gels, body sprays, mints and lip gloss, it’s deliriously magical.
But I repeat . . . August? Can’t we wait a while for the fall frolicking to begin? And don’t forget most of September is technically summer as well, which I’m still treating as such, in case anyone cares. August is the bad girl of the season and gives summer a terrible reputation. While the mosquito is featured as Pet of the Month and TV reporters fry eggs on sidewalks, there are a few of us who still celebrate the long sunny days and rumblings of a good summer thunderstorm.
We want to blame the retailers for rushing things, but they’re only reacting to the demands of the customers, so the obvious path of investigation leads me to this; which one of you is hanging your fall wreath while there’s still laundry on the floor from summer camp? None of my friends will admit to buying plastic pumpkins this time of year but someone has to be guilty.
“It’s probably the same people who wear white shoes before Easter” Fancy Faye told me. “They’re always rushing things and don’t understand that some rules exist just for the sake of bringing order to our chaotic world.”
It isn’t that I don’t love the beauty of autumn. Living on the tropical Gulf Coast, I get as excited over a rare orange leaf as if it were snow. It makes me happy to arrange Mr. Scarecrow on the porch and simmer soup on the stove, but is it so wrong to just want seasons to stay in their own compartments? It’s like fall is cutting in line ahead of summer and snatching the last cookie off the table. Shouldn’t someone step in and say something before summer gets its feelings hurt?
Perhaps all of us sane people should make a pact not to purchase or display any holiday items before the proper time. But whose time do we go by? My cousin puts her Christmas tree up at the beginning of November, I prefer to wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but my mother-in-law puts hers up on Christmas Eve. (She and I will discuss which one of us is the saner woman and I’ll let you know how that works out).
it isn’t the hot drinks in August or the dancing Santas in July that bother me as much as what it all represents, which is — moving on. Pushing forward. Leaving today behind for tomorrow. Children growing up, dogs who can no longer climb stairs, another wrinkle showing up on my (friend’s) face. Sure, some changes can be good, but if you’re still savoring this slice of life, why dive in to the next course so soon?
For now, can’t we all enjoy another glass of tart lemonade, relax and enjoy the last few days of summer, then meet again in October for a Spiced Pumpkin Latte? If you promise to wait, it’s a date. And we’ll feel so good knowing we did our part to restore order to our chaotic corner of the world.
This story first appeared on AL.com and The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and The Press Register in Mobile, Alabama.
I know I am waiting. I let everyone get me last year out there in blogging world. It felt real wrong early on. I don’t want to rush the days away. I am ready for a cooler breeze though, NOT cold, just cooler.
We’ve got a nice breeze today from the Hurricane! That’s not the kind of breeze you want, though.
I hate all this “Rushing the season!” That’s what my Sainted Mother Geneva used to call it. I am a seasoned blogger, so I just don’t read those who do this anymore. They are dead to me. The link is not working to move over to Al.com to finish the article. I am sure your resident tech guru will be on this immediately!
Smart Mama Geneva!
Thanks for letting me know about the link. It should work now.
I will admit that I have been caught up in the rush to fall, but I blame my insatiable need to constantly decorate and change things around. A new season give me a new reason! I refuse however, to have a pumpkin anything until at least Oct, so it’s a date! Pumpkin Cheerios, REALLY???
Really.
And I thought Honey Nut was wild.
Have you been in Hobby Lobby this week?? They have about 25% of the store devoted to Christmas stuff. I was appalled!!!! I thought better of them. Give me a break.
Honey, those trees have been there since late July! I can’t believe it myself. A giant singing angel almost fell on me!
I really don’t mind what retailers do, take it or leave it. It makes me aware I need to start thinking about whatever is coming up. Fall, it’s hard for me because it feels likes summer well into October and don’t even think about fall colors until Thanksgiving (I’m telling you this)! I would love to hear the conversation about who is doing it right with those Christmas trees 🙂
Have a great Labor Day weekend…………
Thanks Emily. I’ll spend Labor Day planning Valentine’s Day treats.
Leslie Anne, you are right! We rush through life and don’t enjoy the moment! My first year in the blogging world I was so behind the curve. By mid-August everyone was talking autumn and I was still knee-deep in summer. So I felt compelled to join everyone! But if I had my druthers, autumn would be ushered in at its appropriate time! Happy Labor Day Weekend!
And to you as well!
Halloween candy displays and pumpkin spice lattes belong in October. It’s a date. I’ll meet you then!
Can’t wait!
Well said Leslie! I want to savor my youth, summer, and a fresh deposit into my checking acount on pay day. You cracked me up when you noted the wrinkle on your friend’s face…I note some wrinkles on my friend’s face as well…whew, glad that wrinkle is not on me. Have a great long weekend…it will still be summer on Tuesday.
Well, it’s good for us to pay attention to our friends, isn’t it? Happy Labor Day weekend to you!
So very true!! I have a hard time following all the fall home tours that have already started. In the South it is just too hot to think about drinking the hot fall drinks. (But our daughter went right out and got the PSL at Starbucks last night when she got an email about their availability.) I saw swimsuits beside fall sweaters in Belks the other day, and Talbots has all of their fall clothing out. Who can possibly wear any of those sweaters in Georgia in August? Another thing that bugs me is our public schools begin classes in late July. Yes July. We can’t help but be confused with our seasons here!
You’ve got to be kidding me . . . July???? That’s crazy! They finally moved the start of school back here to late August because they figured out the extra few weekends of beach tourists bring in huge tax $$$ for the schools. Those hot steamy mornings with little children at the bus stop already sweaty before 7:30 am is a tough start to the year.
[…] the gun and forcing Spiced Pumpkin Latte’s down our throats in the middle of the summer, (HERE) I’ve been reluctant to put out the first pumpkin for fear of being labeled an autumnal […]