Jim Morrison: There's no ‘fun' in ‘fundraiser'

Fall is the finest time of year to be in New England. The apples are in season, cider doughnuts abound, and the crispy, cool, sunny days make it my favorite time of year in my favorite place in the world. It's downright Rockwellian. But I'm here to talk about life, not art. And in life there's always something to spoil those picture-perfect moments.

Parents of school-aged children call them fundraisers.

By this time of the year, everyone who works with or is friendly with a parent or grandparent of school-aged kids is already tired of getting hit up to buy over-priced wrapping paper and magazine subscriptions they don't want or need.

Most of us will flip through the catalog for something we think we might need one day, and, failing to find it, we buy the cheapest thing we can just so we don't feel guilty for not buying something. Raise your hand if that sounds familiar.

Well, I'm here to tell you: We parents are fed up, too.

I've been complaining about this stuff since my oldest son started kindergarten. It's embarrassing, and it is a major pain. Schools and fundraising companies have somehow managed to guilt parents into feeling responsible for participating in them. Most parents can't get their kids to set the table, let alone canvas the neighborhood hawking a glossy catalog full of overpriced nothing, so they take the catalog to work and impose on their co-workers - who are only too happy to return the favor.