Excuse Me, Sir. I'm With McPop Co.
Posted by Melissa Carter at 9/22/2010 6:37 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Halloween Melissa Bert Show Christmas
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Halloween Melissa Bert Show Christmas
Bert Show listeners are familiar with my Campaign to Save Halloween, born out of frustration from seeing Christmas decorations up well before the ghoulish holiday. But a recent e-mail from Bert Show listener Wendy is so impressive I just had to share it with you.
Melissa,
On Saturday, I was driving to North Georgia. As I came through this small town (I promised I wouldn't say which one), I noticed guys up on the pole hanging CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! Aaaaahhhh! I subscribe to the same feelings as you regarding the natural order of the holidays.
So, even though confrontation is out of character for me, I pulled the car over and walked over to the telephone pole. I said, "Excuse me, sir."
The guy at the top of the pole looked down at me in disgust and said, "Yes?"
I said, "I represent the Melissa Carter Project for the Preservation of the Proper Chronological Order of Holidays." I then flashed my work I.D. badge and promptly put it back in my purse.
He said, "You what????"
I said, "Yes sir, MCPPPCOH" (It came out like McPop-Co). I kept a straight face up until this point. Now he started to come down he pole. He got to the bottom and he said:
"Who the heck is Melissa Carter, and what the hell kinda project you talking about?"
I was a little nervous to be face-to-face with him, but I was determined, so I continued! I acted appalled the he didn't know who you were.
"Why Melissa Carter..." I said, "...she is a famous Georgia broadcaster, I am surprised you have not heard of her...and her project was founded to preserve the proper chronological order of holidays. That means no Thanksgiving before Halloween, and no Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Every holiday deserves its proper time. Certainly putting up Christmas lights in September violates the proper chronological order. I would like to ask you on behalf of McPop-Co to stop."
And then I waited...he didn't say anything for about 30 seconds, but he didn't punch me or cuss at me, so I remained firm on your behalf! Then he explained very calmly:
"Look lady, we used to be a city with 14 full-time workers. Now because of budget cuts we have only four full-time and two part-time workers. We are decorating only one section of town at a time, and it is going to take us 6 to 8 weeks to get this done working only a few hours a week with just the two of us, but how about if I promise not to turn them on until the day after Thanksgiving?"
I replied very officially, "Thank you for your hard work and I think waiting until the day after Thanksgiving will keep you in good terms with McPop-Co. I will report in to the Project that you have agreed to comply."
That's when he asked me not to say the name of his town, because he was actually working on his own time, off the clock, to finish that side of the street (it was about 1:15 and he said they stopped getting paid at Noon and it would be frowned upon if the city knew they had the trucks out past Noon.)
I really don't know what he thought of me, he was actually very kind. I guess I will have to be a little more patient with the towns, I didn't realize what they might be facing in terms of budget and work force, but I am still going to enforce McPop-Co with all the stupid neighborhood people who put them up early (or leave them up too long)! We need to start a Facebook page! Haha!
Wendy
MCPPPCOH Charter Member
I am proud to have her as one of my Minions in my mission to preserve Halloween. Nice work, Wendy.
And the Campaign to Save Halloween has a Facebook page! Check it out here...
My Campaign to Save Halloween is also on Twitter - @SaveHalloween
But there just might be a need to launch McPop-Co online. The possibilities are endless.
And to My Left, Ms. Diane Lane.
That is amazing!! lol
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