Dear L.L. Bean

Dear L. L. Bean,

Thank you so much for sending me your latest L.L. Bean Signature catalog. It is beautiful. The photography is gorgeous, the large size/format is very much suited to the photography and it is also thin, which made it a quick read.

I love L.L. Bean. I love classic, comfortable and timeless clothes. I've been wearing L.L. Bean clothing and shoes since my mom stopped making clothes for me and even more so after my Grammie moved to Maine - triple that after my husband became obsessed by Moosehead Lake and its surroundings. The clothes suit my fit and my style; whether I'm at the office, hanging out in my backyard (New Jersey), lounging on the front porch in Moosehead Lake (Maine), schussing down a peak in Sunday River (Maine), sailing on the Grace Bailey in Penobscot Bay (Maine), kayaking through a marsh on Cape Cod (Massachusetts), or grilling in front of our tent on a camping trip (just about anywhere). I LOVE your clothes.

So, here's my question. Did you not notice that it's only June 5th? I don't know all of the intimate details of the winter weather in Maine this year but in Jersey? It was hell. Snow, snow, and more snow -- which I love, but it never seemed to stop. And Spring? Fuggedaboutit. Rain, rain, cold, more rain, more cold. In fact, from what I hear even Mammoth Mountain in California is going to stay open for skiers until JULY 4th WEEKEND!!!!

This weekend was actually the first really nice weekend of what remains of Spring (Spring according to my calendar). SO WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?????

You sent me a catalog for "SUMMER INTO FALL 2011"....

I'm cryin'. It hasn't been warm enough for me to even open up your Spring catalog, I don't think I saw a Summer one and you're sending me "Summer Into Fall 2011?"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get that right now, it's probably a little bit cooler in Maine than it is here in Jersey, but ... isn't your winter longer? Isn't your spring/summer shorter?

I get that you folks in the garment biz need to feather the nest ahead of time. Keep people thinking about the next best thing.

I thought I'd had it when last year in October, Sears had the Christmas stuff right next to the Halloween stuff. But FALL??? FALL??? Now? In June?

Fuggedaboutit....