Stores began selling holiday decorations in mid-October.
Radio stations started playing holiday tunes on Halloween.
And, last Sunday, I hung my first Christmas wreath.
Who cares that it's three weeks before Thanksgiving? I'm feeling the holiday spirit and I'm going to go with it.
My festive vibe kicked in last week when I visited a newly opened vintage mall on Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank. I'm partial to anything that reminds me of my childhood, particularly Christmas decorations, and these malls tend to specialize in baby boomer merchandise. Lucky for me, I have many of my own childhood decorations, including my prized tree-topper star I call the Lancaster star (Lancaster is my maiden name).
It's chipped and held together by Elmer's glue, but it shines bright with 64 years of treasured Christmas memories.
My parents purchased the star the year I was born - 1952, and it's been on my Christmas tree every year since. When I gave birth to my first child, Kacee, my mother gave the star to me. So, not only did I grow up with the same Christmas star, so did my four children.
When Kacee gave birth to her first child, Tilleigh, one would think I would have honored the family tradition and passed down the star to my grandchild.
Nope, couldn't do it. So, I began searching for one like it to "pass down."
Years later, on eBay, I scored. A couple years after that, I found another one, again on eBay, and gave it to my other daughter, Karah. Then, last week, at the vintage store in Red Bank, I surprisingly found another Lancaster star.
Karen Nazor HillI was beside myself with excitement.
Last January, my daughter-in-law, Bonnie, gave birth to my fourth grandchild, Charleana. They, along with my son, Kit, live in California. Not long after her birth, I began searching the Internet for a Lancaster star, but with no success.
The star wasn't even on my mind when I was walking around the vintage mall. I had just turned the corner to go up a different aisle when I looked down and saw a Lancaster star - in excellent condition in its original box - on a table.
I wanted to cry. Seriously.
Charleana, along with her Tennessee cousins, Tilleigh, 10, Evie, 7, and William, 5, was going to have a Lancaster star.
I know I am seriouly weird that a light-up green, red and cream-colored plastic, glittery star means so much to me. But the star represents more than a tree decoration, it represents family, love, and happiness.
Each Christmas, especially at night when only the tree lights are on, I look up at the star. Sometimes tears blur the light making my star shine brighter. In the star, I vividly see myself as a little girl, sitting on my father's shoulders, reaching out to secure the star to the top of the tree.
I see my brother, Larry (who died 16 years ago), jumping up and down beside the tree after unwrapping his much-wanted record player, and my own excitement of getting my first Barbie.
I look at the star and hear my parents singing Christmas songs.
I look at the star and see my children growing up.
Today, it's my grandchildren who make sure the Lancaster star is placed perfectly on my tree.
It truly is one on my most cherished possessions. It's got zero monetary value but offers priceless memories. Maybe one day, long after I'm gone, maybe the Lancaster star will offer the same joyful memories to my grandchildren. You can't put a price tag on that.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com.