Thank you so much to everyone for such kind words.  I drank a cold cider beer and got a good night’s sleep.  That formula alone can do wonders.  I awoke feeling refreshed and while not overly hopeful, I was far more at peace, having allowed myself a good rant.  We cheerleaders are bad at giving ourselves permission to dislike things.  Was her mood better today?  Nope.  Was mine?  Absolutely, and that my friends, is most of the battle.

Now onto the crazy story of the day:

If you recall, last Halloween, I gave Party City an earful regarding their insanely creepy Halloween decorations that sent Kelly into screaming fits of terror.  Their response was FAR LESS than satisfactory, and ranks right above, “Suck it Momma, we just don’t care”.  Needless to say, despite having countless party “needs” this year, I have yet to set foot in their store.

Fast forward to this year, and it happened again at Walgreen’s.  WALGREEN’S!  The drugstore!  In the candy aisle!  I was shocked.  I’m a huge fan of Walgreen’s, and have been for years.  I was so dismayed, and had only a moment to speak to an assistant manager (who showed genuine concern, along with the cashier), but I had to dash because Kelly was buried into my neck, crying her eyes out.

I wrote to the Walgreen’s Corporate website immediately.  You’d think they would have gotten wind of the lovely, congratulatory emails I sent to Target and Meijer last year, thanking them for not creeping out my kids with Rated R decorations hung in plain view.  I guess those stores don’t pow wow as often as you might think.  I assumed because they are competitors, they regularly bump into each other at the Tampax convention, and over drinks, discuss my lengthy letters.  Doesn’t everyone?

I’m happy to report, not only did I get an email response, but in a few short business hours, I received a request to CALL them immediately and ask for Julie.  Julie was a very helpful woman who came straight to the phone, seemed to be awaiting my call, and informed me those decorations were not at other Walgreen’s stores, and would be coming down immediately.  As it turns out, fright-night starved teens aren’t their target demographic.  The tired Momma who needs ponytail holders, a birthday card, has a coupon for bleach, and likes to buy Halloween candy in bulk IS.  And they respect her input and are terribly sorry they frightened a 4 year old who spends all of October holding a countdown to Christmas decorations hitting stores.  Because according to Kelly, “Christmas is never scary.  Ever.  Except for sometimes the Grinch, but I’m brave now, and he doesn’t scare me anymore.  We’re friends.” This statement was made freely, now that she has confirmed that Santa Claus, doesn’t actually have CLAWS.  In her exasperated tone of late, Sara gave Kelly a lesson on homonyms. “It’s a HOMONYM Kelly.  Don’t you know a homonym when you hear it?” Really smarty?  Because Claus and Claws are HOMOPHONES.  But you know what?  I didn’t go there. Apparently that was October’s only shred of restraint, and I spent it on semantics with a 6 year old.  Not my wisest call.

Halloween used to be fun.  Halloween used to be about innocent frights and sugar comas.  I don’t know when the corner turned, but this horror junk should be reserved for those with the maturity to process it.  Shame on anyone who lacks enough of a moral conscious to see that line in the sand.  As for now, Walgreen’s will continue to get my business, which is a relief, because that’s the closest candy bar aisle to my house!  This girl needs her Payday fix, and I love chattin’ it up with the lady who runs cosmetics.  She is so helpful! People…I make friends everywhere….(except at Party City)…