Christmas is my favorite time of year. It's not the beautiful, neighborhood illuminating decorations or the nonstop Christmas shows that make this season my favorite time of year. What makes it my favorite time of year is that everything is so much better around Christmas. You know, it's almost as if there is a spell cast upon the world. Everyone seems to be friendlier, families pull together, and people who have never spoken a word to each other stand outside of the local Walmart ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.

Things like that make it feel as though the world is at peace and all is well. The only thing that makes this better are the family traditions that make the season bright. When you think about it, Christmas isn't Christmas without traditions.

On Black Friday after a little bit of shopping, my family and I would do a little cleaning and then begin decorating our house. We play Christmas music and bake cookies while drinking several pots of coffee. We talk of Christmas memories and laugh at things that have become humors, such as my habit of breaking one Christmas decoration a year. It always sets the season off to a wonderful start. It seems that nothing can ruin the season once these events have taken place.

But that didn't happen this year. This year, Christmas feels as if it isn't coming. There isn't a goose getting fat and the old man doesn't need a penny put in his hat.

I left school late on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I worked all day Thanksgiving Day and then proceeded to work all day Black Friday. Each person in my household became ill and time seemed to slip away.

I wasn't able to help my loving family decorate our house. I didn't get to listen to the Christmas songs in the background of reminiscing beloved Christmas memories. I haven't seen my Christmas tree nor have I seen the lights burning bright in my neighborhood. I haven't watch a single Christmas movie with my mother while drinking coffee. I seem to be wondering if Christmas is really a few days away.

I find myself sitting alone, drinking unhealthy amounts of hot chocolate and coffee while watching Christmas movies. I'm thinking of my one way street, and the chance of my dog running around the neighborhood wearing her jingle bell collar. I keep dreaming of waking up at home with the scent of fresh coffee brewing and Christmas cookies baking. It seems that I am missing home more than usual and I long for my family's phone calls even more than usual.

I find myself promising I'll be back to the place I love the most. I keep swearing that I will make it to the county boarders before the clock strikes 12 on Christmas Eve. I am continuously promising no matter how long the road back, I'll be home for Christmas.