Heard any of these complaints yet? Or said them yourself? I may be in the minority who find the comments more annoying than the pre-pre-holiday sales that start in November. I live for this time of year and it seems that sometimes the complaints begin way before the first wreath is displayed.

Should we holiday enthusiasts have to justify gearing up for the season a little early?

Every holiday during every month of every year is commercialized. Why should Christmas be any different? People spend money at Christmas. Retailers know this and they fill our need.

If you're going to overspend-and most of us will-isn't it better to do it on gifts for other people? I buy a lot of things this time of year, but I don't buy the whole "commercialization" excuse.

Come on, what's so wrong with a few poinsettias at Thanksgiving? Maybe I'm spoiled by my holiday traditions. My entire childhood is grounded in traditions, especially Christmas ones.

My family went to Midnight Mass every Christmas Eve. I will never forget everyone singing Silent Night by candlelight in that big church. And the trip to and from Mass, where mile by mile, I would search for any hint of a red glow in the sky. And I remember spotting it more than once.

We always had plenty of gifts and Santa never failed in getting us what we really wanted or more often, needed.

All these years later, I can recall a few special presents, namely a Dancerella doll. But what I remember most is "Toy Boy" and "The Grinch" television specials and chocolate star candies that Mom only bought at Christmas.

I remember decorating the tree with clay and popsicle stick ornaments that we had made in art class.

The holidays will be as materialized as we let them be. If your goal is to be the brightest house on the block, then by all means, drop a few hundred bucks on icicle lights. (That would actually help me out with my other tradition of driving around to look at holiday decorations.)

My goal is to make sure my girls remember Christmas in the same way I do-as a magical end to the year. The best thing I can give them is tradition. I can throw toy after toy under the tree and be sure they will forget about 98 percent of them.

Or I can throw memory after memory at them-and be sure they will remember 98 percent of them.

Of course, I'm human. I still spend too much on presents and food. But refusing to spend some money on a gift for someone that I feel deserves it would be a cop-out. There is money for the things that matter and sometimes that gift really does matter.

As long as I spend more time than money, I won't beat myself up over a few dollars spent.

Keep in mind that holiday spirit is just as contagious as holiday bashing. Have you noticed what happens once people learn to co-exist with endless toy commercials and repetitive Christmas carols?

They lighten up. Right in the middle of the shopping and baking and planning and traveling, people slow down. (Nearly) everyone finally gives in and lets the holidays take their course.

Having kids helps the process-looking at lighted reindeer and string lights with a 6-year-old is a refresher course in holiday spirit.

In the name of that spirit, I'll admit that even Scrooge has his place at Christmas. But something to consider: He was haunted by creepy spirits and learned his lesson the hard way.

If you have a heart condition-perhaps it's "two sizes too small"-head off the cloaked demons and shock somebody with a quick "Happy Holidays."