On July 15, I received my first adertising by mail for Christmas cards. This comes from National Geographic. I need to write to Lands’ End and L. L. Bean, and ask them if their marketing departments are asleep. I mean, if they were following the lead of National Geographic, they’d be selling holiday sweaters and winter wear, instead of swimsuits and summer duds.

Each year it seems the Christmas season gets pulled further ahead. You may have seen this cartoon (it’s been around), but I think it depicts the situation perfectly.