Science has finally recognized a new mental disorder called C.A.D. (Christmas Associated Disorder). C.A.D. starts in July when the stores first start selling Xmas goodies and ends surprisingly each year on Dec 26th. While science has no clue as to why this mental disease spreads like wild fire every year at the same time, but they think it has something to do with the holidays and this is the reasoning behind called it Christmas Associated Disorder. The condition brings on a hated of shopping, retail stores, and snotty crying babies/kids and in extreme conditions makes one actually start growling and trying to hit other humans. Of course if the other human is suffering from C.A.D. as well then the potential for a violent fist fight emerges and the police have to get involved, but this is only in extreme cases. If the sufferer is anti-social to begin with then C.A.D. becomes really bad and the individual might have to be placed in straight jacket in a rubber room someplace to avoid hurting others and self. Their is only two known treatments 1) stay home and pretend it does not exist or 2) try to hold out tell Dec 26th which will mean the condition has run its course.

I used to think this very real disorder began right after Halloween and ended after the sales in February. I know this because I love Halloween and waiting for the children to run up and yell "trick or treat" (some people love toddlers) and my birthday falls in late February. As I have lived alone except for fifteen years in my adult life, I have not been too keen on this four month season which, supposedly, has always been tauted as the happiest time of the year. Then, when my mother passed away four years ago, I went back to church (Catholic)and now I get a greater sense of what Christmas should mean: peace. To all of the fellow loners our there in this world, I wish you a Merry Christmas and I will include you loners in my prayers this Christmas season. It's the best I can do. Take care, don't do anything with permanent consequences and talk to somebody before acting.