"Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la." That's the word on the street at least, but I'm having a tough time getting 'jolly' right now.Maybe it's the fact I'm a slow learner, or because the department stores have been schlepping December 25th since Labor Day this year. Regardless, I'm hoping someone spikes the ol' eggnog soon so that I'm not a Grinch for the entire month.Following in the spirit of the season, however, I'd like to follow the ghosts of Christmas past and give out my annual list of needs just in case there's a reader or two out there who isn't sure what to get the columnist who has everything. (I know you're out there somewhere, dear reader!Another Stanley Cup would be great for starters. I mean, one can never really have too many of those and now that we have an odd number of the darn things, it simply makes sense to even-them up so if the city has dinner guests, each can have their own cup to drink from. Plus, the one I asked for last year was perfect and the timing of your delivery was great (just as the Pirates were mathematically eliminated.)And while we're at it a contract extension to Evgeni Malkin would be great since we named our puppy after him. We almost named a cat Jagr years ago. Could you imagine what a disaster that would've been?Now that we have that covered, let's examine the ghost of Christmas present.Things in the here and now that require attention are really just the kids. After all, I've been blessed with good health, good jobs and a great family life. So I guess if you could be sure to bless the kids with continued good health, brains that seem to move a million miles per minute and days filled with unencumbered joy, that's probably enough. Although my son insists that every 8- year-old boy wants an elevator in their house and he'd never miss another spelling word again for the rest of his life if he got one. I haven't made the connection between spelling accurately and riding elevators, but apparently there is one somewhere.Moving on to Christmas future, I am left to ponder exactly what the future means in the first place. It's selfish to only worry about my future, and it's not realistic to only be concerned about the future of my family. After all, everyone is in this together, right?So at the risk of letting a nonholiday song creep into this article, there are words to a song by the Goo Goo Dolls that seem to fit exactly how I feel this time of year:

"You ask me what I want this year. And I'll try to make this kind and clear, just a chance that we might find better days.Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings or designer love and empty things. Just a chance that we might find better days."Maybe that's it. Maybe all I really want this year, or any year for that matter, is a chance that everyone might find better days.Of course, 'better days' is relative to each of us and has a different meaning for everyone. For some, it's a warm meal, a roof over their head or a job, while for others, it's reuniting with the ghosts of Christmas past.Fortunately, the season gives us 12 days of Christmas to celebrate! Make the most of each one this year with the hope that they might lead to better days -- even if your days are pretty good now!Have a wonderful holiday season and my prayer for you is that you will know even better days in the days ahead.Christian Ola, a community columnist for the Butler Eagle, resides in Mars with his wife, son and daughter and can be reached at christianolaaol.com and through his Web site, www.christianola.com.