How About a Statute of Limitations?

We are approaching a dozen days into 2026 and I'm still getting wished a 'happy new year' by folks on the phone and in stores. Huh?

When do we stop doing that to each other? I was raised by wolves (short, grey Irish ones I believe) and we never learned about this stuff in etiquette classes. When has the ship officially sailed on extending best wishes (even) after the year has changed?

Is there a cut-off date and is it published in USA Today in the lower right hand on the front page? Perhaps, like one of those tests of the Emergency Broadcasting System, is there a public service television announcement on the 'use by' date?

Don't get me wrong-I'm just trying to sort out why the after school high school helper at the grocery can't cut me a break in the greetings and felicitations department when I stop in to shop. 

I don't even know the kid and more often than not when I glance at the name tag, I assume the Dymo label maker threw up since the name makes no sense to me (say what you will-my generation had names you could attempt with some confidence to pronounce.) Meanwhile everyday I'm still getting a 'happy new year!'

To be clear, if you've not seen someone for some time, perhaps they dropped off the face of the earth, by all means meet 'em and greet 'em.

The year (only) has 365 days in it. How many more are we going to spend wishing one another a happy remainder of it. A halt to all of this can't start soon enough, that's for sure. Synchronize your watches and calendars.
-bill kenny