I was on my way to work half asleep, reminding myself that I needed to go to the gym later and that perhaps it’s time to seriously consider online dating and that if the dumpling truck was outside the office today it was definitely where I was getting lunch, when my thoughts were interrupted by bright flashes of red and white.
Wait, what? I slowed.
I looked on in confusion at the people passing me by. They were carrying colored items in their hands and I stared at them in disbelief.
Is it possible? I could feel the panic start to well up in my chest and inch its way to my heart.
What’s today again? Halloween was just yesterday and I knew that for a fact because of all those children walking around my neighborhood wearing capes. A woman approached, she had blonde hair and was looking serious wearing a black wool coat, and when I saw what was attached to her perfectly manicured hand I nearly reached out and grabbed hold of her arm— Starbucks holiday cups?! Already!?
She looked at me with a nod of silent and reluctant acceptance. It is true, her eyes said, it is true.
She walked away leaving me filled with dread. The implications of such an early appearance of the ubiquitous Starbucks holiday cup were monumental. For however disposable, this little cup starts off a chain reaction all across the city wherein Christmas and its long and painful approach are thrust into our faces at every turn whether we’re ready or not. And just so we’re all on the same page here, I’m definitely not.
Overwhelmed I mistakenly sought haven in Starbucks in desperate need of my morning fix. To my horror I saw (who could help not to?) that the whole store was an explosion of red, with shelves upon shelves of holiday flasks, mugs and other festive paraphernalia. The menu board was promoting the peppermint mocha (I haven’t even had a pumpkin spice latte yet!). Is that it? Is fall over? Isn't someone going to say something? I started to sweat. I looked around with concern at all the happy red-cup-holding-New-Yorkers and my eyes were pleading - can't we get to Thanksgiving first for Christ’s sake?!
Apparently not. It's November 1 and I’m already drinking Christmas Blend (smooth and spicy) out of a grandiosely decorated grande cup. It has a picture of a snowman and some weird looking elf on it. They’re apparently singing Christmas carols, the words, “when we’re together snowmen come to life,” peeking out from under the sleeve marked 60% post-consumer fiber. CAUTION: THE BEVERAGE YOU’RE ABOUT TO ENJOY IS EXTREMELY HOT!
How about CAUTION: THE HOLIDAYS ARE MUCH FURTHER AWAY THAN THEY APPEAR.
I don’t want to think about snow or snowmen or greeting cards or plane tickets or trees or how I'm going to afford presents. Not yet. I want a little bit more time to let it sink in, to prepare myself. I think we all do.
So I went home and didn’t go to the gym but instead went for a long walk in Central Park to clear my head. Sure it snowed over the weekend and the trees are basically dead now missing out on their chance to turn pretty colors, but I did what I could to enjoy what little is left of my favorite season before it's pushed out entirely by corporate America. Give the pumpkins (and the kids' teeth) a chance to rot first, will ya? As I walked, avoiding death with each unstable tree branch that I passed, I came to the conclusion I’m not quite ready for online dating (maybe speed dating? Is that still a thing?) and that if the dumpling truck was back again tomorrow I'd make a second appearance (the chicken and thai basil are so good!).
I also decided that for at least the next month, I’ll be getting my coffee somewhere else.
