Richard Hyatt: Here are a few things that remind me of Christmas

It's more than just a routine day on the calendar, so how do we know Christmas is here?

We hear the jingle-jangle of the Salvation Army bell outside the store.

We hear Bing Crosby croon about a "White Christmas" and Elvis complain about having a "Blue Christmas."

We eat our annual slice of fruitcake and sip our yearly cup of eggnog.

We brave the holiday traffic at Peachtree Mall and promise we'll never do that again knowing full well we will.

We sob out loud when that grumpy old bill collector tears up George Bailey's note and joins in on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

We wish we could sit on Santa Claus' knee one more time.

We are so confused we think Tiny Tim is one of Clark Griswold's kids.

We hope someone erases the last remaining copy of that endless holiday movie about the kid and the BB gun.

We hope Sunny 100 will wait until Valentine's Day to start playing Christmas songs for 2015.

We see friends decked out in sweaters so ugly they would never wear them any other time of the year.

We hear people mention that wonderful old savings and loan.

We shop all over town but never find a store that carries frankincense and myrrh.

We think we'll scream if we hear Nat King Cole sing about his roasting chestnuts one more time.

We wake up every morning and take the pledge not to ever go to Walmart again, but before the sun goes down we're back again.

We see billboards for the Boom-Boom lady.

We pray Ron Anderson could do a "Tuna Christmas" one more year.

We get the Ludy Family Christmas power bill by mistake.

We wake up and can't find the Elf on the Shelf.

We light a candle on Christmas Eve and remember why we're here.

-- Richard Hyatt wishes you a Merry Christmas. Reach him at hyatt31906@knology.net.

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Richard Hyatt: Here are a few things that remind me of Christmas."