Why I love the month of December

It was a wise person who divided the year into 12 months. I really do not know who came up with this idea, but let me go on record in saying that it was a good one. While each month has its own peculiar value, some months are better than others.

For example, I am not a member of January’s fan club. I am not sure if it is the longest month of the year but at times, it sure seems to be.

I really have to say that my favorite month of the year has to be December. Maybe this goes back to when I was a youngster and looked forward to the Christmas holiday. I think the Christmas holiday began to wane when I had to foot the bill for all of the Christmas activity.

I do not love December because of the shopping. Right after Thanksgiving, the shopping frenzy begins. This year several people lost their lives. Is it crazy to go out shopping like this when everybody else is out there with the fierce intent of buying something and you had better not get in his or her way? On the other hand, do all the crazy people go shopping?

Well, I am one crazy person that does not go out and join the rest. I just do not like shopping.

One of my favorite songs of the season is, “Tis the season to be jolly.” I like jolly. During the Christmas season, everybody enjoys seeing jolly people. I like to exploit the jolliness of my nature. I may not be Santa, but I sure could pass as his twin brother.

During the holiday season, nobody seems to bother you about your weight. In fact, everybody seems to enjoy seeing the jolly old man who is slightly overweight. I cannot tell you how many times when out in public during the month of December people have come up to me and said, “Here’s my list. Don’t forget me.” At first, I did not quite understand what they were doing. Now as they place that sacred list in my hand I look at them and say, “Ho, ho, ho.” Everybody seems to enjoy that.

Of course, it can go too far. One time after my Santa impression, I happened to sit down and before long, there was a line of youngsters wanting to sit on my lap. I have since retired my Santa impression, especially in public.

What I like about December is that nobody (including my wife), worries about diets. All year long, my wife faithfully reminds me, “That’s not on your diet. Put it down.” During the holiday season, she is too busy baking pies and cookies for relatives and friends to think about my diet. Oh, how I love December.

Perchance somebody in the course of a conversation brings up the subject of diets; the month of December is a great ready-made excuse for me.

“I start my diet,” I say with the utmost confidence to anybody inquiring, “next month.” It would be wrong, absolutely wrong, to begin a diet in December. If a person would do that, what do they do for a New Year’s resolution?

For me, December is sacred. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived said, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV).

My purpose is to enjoy the entire month of December.

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