When I was a kid I had a recurring dream \u2014 a wish, really \u2014 that I could pull some stored snowballs from the freezer and pelt my brother with them on the hottest day in the July. <\/p>\n
That is the curse of being the smallest brother. You have to scheme in order to find satisfaction. <\/p>\n
These days my snowballs in the freezer are more easily accessed. It is called Christmas<\/a> and I drive people crazy with it. <\/p>\n It is my one true joy in life. <\/p>\n I start in July because August is too early to do anything with Christmas<\/a>. But there is just something about the blazing heat and humidity of July that makes it all ok. People laugh when they see you stringing lights<\/a> or they smile if they see hear about you Christmas<\/a> shopping in July. <\/p>\n In August, you\u2019re a sick weirdo. In July, you\u2019re hip. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t ask me to explain it. I get into it in July because I\u2019m done with summer by Memorial Day. Perhaps if I still lived in snow country I would feel different. <\/p>\n I get my Christmas<\/a> on in July because I love<\/a> how it makes me feel. The cable shopping channels? Got \u2018em on. Hallmark Christmas<\/a> movies? I watch every sappy one of them. Christmas<\/a> radio<\/a> on the Internet year round? Yes, there is a God. <\/p>\n The challenge doesn\u2019t come from doing this in July. It comes from defending doing it from the first of August through the end of October. <\/p>\n I don\u2019t know why Christmas<\/a> in August is so offensive. But some people really get their knickers in a twist over it. <\/p>\n But have you ever seen a snowman that made you cry? Have you ever waved to Santa<\/a> and not smiled? Have you ever conspired for the greatest Christmas<\/a> surprise in the world and felt great about it every minute you were doing it?<\/p>\n Why not, then, celebrate Christmas<\/a> at times other than Christmas<\/a>?<\/p>\n