Well, the holiday season is officially here — at least for me. I heard Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" a few days ago while driving down Main Street, and for a brief moment, I was caught up in the holiday fervor.

That quickly ended, however, when I was nearly sideswiped by three cars rushing to make the light.

Why do we feel a need to rush, especially around the holidays?

It's as if a timer goes off in our brain that says, "You need to run around as quickly as you can for the next four weeks in an attempt to purchase as many useless gifts for as many people as possible."

Remember folks, this is the same brain that tells us painting our bodies black and gold each Sunday for four consecutive months is normal, and that someone really will like that fruitcake you are purchasing.

Heck, we even try to rush the holiday itself, by starting the shopping season while fireworks are still available and thoughts of cooking out on the grill still fill our heads.

The holiday shopping season runs slightly longer than the school year; at least the way I see things.

Ironically enough, I actually received a Christmas card before Thanksgiving this year. That's right. The sender skipped Thanksgiving altogether.

Can't we all slow down?

I'm sure it's a sign that I am getting older (or more mature, as I like to say), but there was a time not too long ago when my evenings were spent actually decorating our Christmas tree. Not just a couple of minutes but several hours were dedicated to finding the perfect placement for the perfect ornament, with little care given to the amount of time required.

In fact, the only things time sensitive were the Christmas specials on TV, because they only came on one time each year. That's right, kids. There was no 24 hour marathon of "A Christmas Story" or multiple playing times for "Frosty the Snowman." My personal favorite was always "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." I like the old fashioned claymation characters.

Where did all of that go, and when did it disappear? I guess the most important question, though, is how can I get it back?

My personal list of gifts is probably pretty tough to accomplish, but here it is.

I want to string popcorn together with thread and place it on the tree. Not just any popcorn either, but the kind that you actually have to cook on the stove, or in a hot air popper at the very least. Microwavable popcorn is great to eat, but lousy for stringing.

I want to sing all of the verses to "Silent Night" and hold candles in an otherwise dark church with visitors from out of town.

It would be great if a retail sales clerk would ask me who I am buying for and what are their likes or dislikes. Just as important, I want them to mean it and spend several minutes strolling the aisles with me in a quest for just the right gift.

I want to lay awake on Dec. 24, knowing the next morning that the Christmas tree will be buried underneath gifts from Santa Claus, but wrapped very poorly by me.

I want to read the Bible verses telling the wonderful Christmas story to my family and know that they understand what the season is all about.

I want to slow down. Not just today, but tomorrow, too.

I want to hug my wife and kids longer than usual when "Joy to the World" is sung by Christmas carolers at our door. You remember what Christmas Caroling is, right?

The funny part is that my wish list isn't all that different from others folks' lists. I simply have a forum to express my desires.

But wouldn't it be really great if we all decided to take back the holiday and make it something worth celebrating, rather than something to get through?

I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas this year and ask you to spend a little extra time doing the things that make the season special. Don't get caught in the trap like so many others. Instead, do something different. Celebrate for the right reasons this year.