Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ahhh, it’s finally December. Time to create the obligatory personal hHoliday reflections for public consumption. I started off, with the title, by declaring the phrase that was perfectly harmless when I was a youth for this segment of the yearly calendar. One statement that covers the rest of the year; tidy, efficient, heart-felt.

Yes, yes, yes, there are many different celebrations this time of year. I, for one, am very glad this invokes so much upbeat celebration, so much love for one another. However, I don’t go around poo-pooing YOUR celebrations or associated greetings. So, I would very much appreciate you not trying to “curb” my personal commemorative choices. There’s room, on the calendar, for EVERYBODY to honor whatever they wish during the month of December. Your choice not on the calendar yet? Well, pencil it in and go get yourself a Fetivus Pole right away!

There are some in our modern society who frown upon the lack of “inclusion” of my favorite holiday greeting phrase. To those few, I refer you to my favorite catchphrase from an early-’80s sitcom truck stop waitress, “Kiss my grits!”

I have mentioned this in earlier columns; I grew up in a home with six siblings. We were five boys and two girls. Dad was in the Army during our formative years. Whether we lived in New Castle, Pennsylvania, or Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, or Baumholder, Germany, or Loring Air Force Base, Maine, or Lawton, Oklahoma, the Keck kids ALWAYS had a spectacular Christmas.

I think one of the darker aspects of this time of year is how depressed some people get. Various factors contribute to this: not being around family or loved ones, not having enough money to grant Christmas wishes, not being able to set the table the way you remember the table at Grandma’s house, etc., etc. For some of you, I would encourage you to break from the norm and create your own traditions, personalize your own celebrations.

There is a genuine reason this time of year is celebrated by so many across our planet. Yes, wonderful gifts were brought that day, however, they were brought by The Magi — adult, powerful kings. The most heartfelt gift was given by the little drummer boy. All this child had to offer was his talent and his music. Those personal gifts were received with the love with which they were given.

Truthfully, please, let us not forget the real “Reason For The Season.”

George Keck is an Army retiree, a drummer, and Lawton resident, off and on, since 1964.