Jared Lang

Where are you, Christmas?

Jared Lang | Highlands Today
Published: December 12, 2012

December is almost halfway over and Christmas still feels like a lifetime away.

School is still in session, there are no lights or tree up around my house, and the weather outside is definitely not frightful.

I'm usually not a huge fan of Christmas. Sure, I love the tradition and time spent with family and presents. As a holiday, though, it isn't in my top three (which are Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July, and New Year's).

Something about the cold weather and cheesy music never appealed to me. This year something is different though. I find myself wanting to feel the holiday spirit and disappointed that Sebring doesn't feel — well — Christmasy.

During most of the year, I cannot stand cold weather. I wake up in the morning and feel as if leaving the warmth of my blankets is the worst possible decision I could make. Lately though, I feel cheated by Mother Nature as I wake up every morning and continue to put on shorts and T-shirts.

I still don't want to leave my bed, but now there's no excitement in hustling out to the car and huddling up next to the heat vents. My jackets and caps are still in the closet just waiting to get some fresh air.

I know that I would get tired of the cold in about a week but in a state where a white Christmas is out of the question, a cool one would be nice.

Now that my sister lives in an apartment at the University of South Florida, it takes my family a little extra motivation to decorate for the holidays. In the past, the tree would have been up by now, filled with ornaments both bought and made by my sister and me.

Lights would have been strung around the house, however sloppily, and left on throughout the day. The menorah would be out on the kitchen counter and lit every night by my dad for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.

For days now, my mom has been asking me to get the Christmas box down from the attic but I don't feel encouraged to do so. Putting up the tree used to be a fun collaboration between my sister and I and I intend on waiting until she is home to even make an attempt.

Hopefully everything will come together soon. School gets out next week and I can finally begin to get excited for Christmas.

My sister comes home soon and the tree will be put up by the both of us. I'll climb the roof, strategically placing lights to create the most dazzling display possible and Rachael will set out each of the Santa figurines my family has somehow collected throughout the year.

Presents will begin to appear under the tree and the smell of Christmas will fill every room of my house (though it will most likely be because of a scented candle). A little chilly weather and some delicious meals with family are the only things that will make the holidays better.

The day after Christmas, though, I know I'll be ready to move on. I'll have had about as much Christmas music as I can handle and any cold weather that I welcomed will be cursed.

New Year's is just around the corner and nothing's more exciting than ending a long, memorable year and bringing in a new one, full of opportunity.

I'm sure Santa feels the same way.