The Popcorn Stand: Hallowthanksmas season is here

I was beginning to worry I wouldn’t see the first signs of the Hallowthanksmas season until after Labor Day, but not to worry.

Last weekend I saw a huge Halloween sign displayed on the front window of a grocery story, thus officially beginning, at least for me, the Hallowthanksmas season.

Of course I’m late as usual as I guess the official launch of the Hallowthanksmas season can be considered to begin when Starbucks launched that Pumpkin Spice Latte thing or something or other. I have no desire to spend $8 or whatever it is for a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it was reassuring to know Starbucks had indeed launched the drink on August 24, a few days before I saw the huge Halloween sign.

But I did miss those Balsam Hill artificial tree commercials in the middle of summer telling me how important it was to celebrate the tradition of Christmas in the middle of summer with an artificial tree.

I’m an old fuddy duddy when it comes to all this co-mingling of the different seasons. I remember when Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas were all actually their own separate holidays.

I remember when the new school year and the high school football season actually didn’t start until September and not in mid-august.

I remember when the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA actually had different seasons. Now the NFL, Major League Baseball, NHL, NBA and college football games aren’t all just played during the same time of the season around Halloween — they’re all played on the same night.

I haven’t checked yet, but I’m pretty sure for the first time ever the NFL season actually won’t end before the official start of spring training in baseball in 2022. The NFL has added another week to its season, which my guess puts the Super Bowl sometime around mid-february — just when pitchers and catchers will be reporting for spring training.

I remember as a kid when the Las Vegas-los Angeles-san Antonio-inglewood-irwindale, but then still Oakland Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl on January 9. JANUARY 9.

I’ve also never gotten used to the fact the NFL no longer begins its season on Labor Day weekend so every Sunday on Labor Day weekend I always walk around like a lost soul in the wilderness wondering why there isn’t a pro football game on.

Of course there will be plenty of college football games on this weekend through Labor Day. There was a time when the Notre Dame football team didn’t begin its season until October — OCTOBER.

And I’m still not used to possibly having to watch the World Series on Halloween night. I remember a time when the World Series would be over by midoctober — or at least no later than a week before Halloween.

Of course there was a time when the World Series would begin the first week of October or even as early as the last week of September.

But at least Hallowthanksmas comes just once a year, although it is basically pretty much almost the last half of the year.

And evidently this Pumpkin Spice Latte thing is really good from what I hear. I mean really good, although I’m not a big pumpkin fan.

To be honest I don’t know when the last time I’ve had pumpkin pie during the holidays. I always gravitate to one of the other pies. And I never have pumpkin pie without whipped cream.

Anyway, so ‘Tis the Season, Hallowthanksmas season is here. It’s only going to be a 102 or so this Labor Day from what I hear, so I’ll have one last chance to lie on the sidewalk and soak in that heat before the Hallowthanksmas-type weather apparently arrives. Or at least when the temperatures dip down into the 90s.

Again, remember Hallowthanksmas only comes once a year and you only have 4 ½ months or so to enjoy it. Don’t let Hallowthanksmas pass you by.