A Starbucks Christmas
Written by Claire Colvin
Early last week I opened the door to my favorite Starbucks and walked smack into Christmas.
There it was, unexpected but inescapable: the red cups, the peppermint drinks, the jazzy compilation album. Once I got over the shock, I was delighted. I felt like a child waking up to the first snow and dreaming of a snow day. “It’s Christmas!” I thought. And then the rational side of my brain — lagging behind and longing for coffee — reminded me, “No it isn’t. It’s barely November.”
Thank goodness there was a grande, non-fat, no foam, extra-hot latte to soften the blow.
One latte later I am still trying to puzzle it out. Is it Christmas yet or not? It certainly is the season at Starbucks and a few of my neighbours have taken it to heart. Each evening there are more lights decorating the roof lines and at least one family has put up their tree. Municipalities are getting in on it too, lighting Main Street with candy canes and holly. But it is Christmas?
A lot of people will say that the Christmas season is stretched out to maximize profits, and I’m not sure that they’re wrong. It does seem to start a little earlier each year. But it is hard to resist the sparkle that Christmas puts on everything, even that simple cup of coffee.
The songs and storybooks tell us that ‘Christmas is in our hearts’ and maybe that’s where the struggle lies. Christmas may be ready for me but am I ready for Christmas? Are you?
Photo courtesy of Virgina. Used with permission.
Love can be dangerous
But that’s as close to being ready for Christmas as I get until about December 10th.
mmmmmm bliss bar. (The West coast version. The East coast version sucks.)
I, for one, am ready for Christmas. The moment I felt the cold air and decided to wrap the first scarf of the season around my neck, I knew I was ready. I can’t wait to spend time with my family, decorate a tree, and maybe even play in some snow. Like Claire, I have been entering Starbucks quite a bit. I have been taking advantage of the opportunity for egg nog lattes and gingerbread lattes.
I would also like to point out that I am a student. Perhaps this is part of the reason why Christmas could not come sooner. When Christmas is here, it means papers and exams are not. Could that have anything to do with my over-enthusiastic Christmas cheer?