With the beginning of the Memorial Day Weekend, as many turn to honor the many men and women who have served in the military both recently and over centuries, still others are focusing on the end of Summer, welcoming Fall and a new School Year, and what is known in the retail industry as the famous fourth quarter including the Holiday and Christmas shopping seasons.

So first we must salute the many millions who have and still do serve in the armed forces, and cherish the memories of the countless many who have given the ultimate sacrifice, whose lives have been lost as well as those whose lives were irrevocably altered for the worse.

Not surprisingly, many of the customers of 1-800-4CLOCKS are currently serving in the military both in the USA and overseas, as well as many whose service to this Country comes up as a point of discussion while shopping with us.  Also not surprisingly, the military and defense industry are users of many timepieces, and we have had the occasion to work together numerous times.

As we settle into the Fall Season, clocks of all kinds and types – grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks, antique floor clocks – will be thought about as potential gifts for loved ones.  Hence the coffee or tea comparison in the title.  The question of giving clock as a present, particularly one of the nicer higher quality ones, is generally thought of when one wants to gift a gift that is, ironically, not fleeting like time.  Rather, clocks, particularly grandfather clocks, are more and more given as heirloom quality gifts meant to symbolize continuity between the generations, and clocks are given as wedding gifts or presents, wedding anniversary presents for a special anniversary — we’ve had a 40th wedding anniversary grandfather clock and a 50th wedding anniversary clock go out in the last week alone.  Sometimes these are special gifts from a spouse to mark an important milestone, such as a special birthday or wedding anniversary.  Bridal Registry requests, including parents, and parents-in-law to be who want to give something special to their child on their wedding day, are becoming more and more common (we very recently had one Father of the Bride who insisted that the entire Bridal Party, including Groomsmen and the Best Man, make a special trip to the new home of the Bride and Groom on the very morning of their wedding to see their new grandfather clock).  We know the parents were pleased.  We can only hope all others in the wedding party called to see this new Howard Miller Grandfather Clock were similarly gratified.

So when thinking about presents in the Fall, somewhat ironically, one of the longest lasting presents one can give is one that measures fleeting time.