The next few weeks — frankly, the next two months — seem to fly by faster than the rest of the year.

Next Thursday is Thanksgiving and once the turkey is devoured it the countdown to Christmas will truly begin.

The next few weeks also signal the true start of the Christmas shopping season. Some would argue the time to shop for Christmas never starts early enough, but who has the time to shop months ahead of time? Hopefully you have, but we’re guessing the majority of people are in the same boat as us — putting it off until we have to.

The next few weeks are where most of us really start to think about what we will buy our loved ones this holiday season. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and we’re sure stores around the county will be lined up as people try to get a super deal.

But, we urge locals to keep our small businesses in mind. Small business Saturday is Nov. 26 — or as they call it in Alabama, the day of the Iron Bowl.  It’s been a banner year for small businesses in Selma, given all of the different anniversaries celebrated.

We hope to see packed stores on Small Business Saturday.

It’d be a great way to thank local businesses for not only supporting our community, but for their loyalty to this city.