Did you know we're having a bazaar?

As I approached our local grocery store, I noticed something terrifying: the columns outside were bedecked with swathes of evergreen, and just inside the door stood a 9-foot, expertly tied Noble fir (possibly even Grand), fresh from the ranch. Elves--I mean, store clerks were busy arranging fruit displays, dusting the rafters, and rearranging POS displays. (That means "point of sale", though with grocery stores, it could also mean "piece of shit".) My dear consumer whores, christmas is upon us.

Then, at checkout...
me: "So are you guys going to be playing christmas music soon as well?"
clerk: "No, this is all for the store inspection tomorrow and then the holiday bazaar on Thursday.
me: "Thursday next week, or tomorrow?"
clerk: "No the store inspection is tomorrow and the bazaar in next thursday. So we're getting ready for both those things and decorating"
me: "It seems like christmas decorations come out earlier every year."
clerk: "Well we always decorate for the holiday bazaar it's just that with the inspection tomorrow we're doing it all now. For both of them."
me: "Right, makes sense. Too bad nobody ever decorates for thanksgiving."
clerk: "Yeah we use it for the holiday bazaar mainly. What else can you really decorate with though right?"
me: "Umm, autumn leaves?"
clerk: "Ha, right but nobody enjoys that. And we always use christmas stuff for the holiday bazaar, obviously."
me: "Of course. Thanks..."

Not entirely sure what was getting to me more: the fact that the grocery store was waiting til the day before to clean for their inspection, or the fact that this woman couldn't stop mentioning decorating for the holiday bazaar. I guess when you're a grocery clerk you really don't have many topics for small talk with customers (especially not on a day like today...).

And oh, did you hear? The local grocery store is having their annual holiday bazaar next Thursday! I do believe it is bedecked in christmas decorations...