Dear Payton,

I couldn't help but laugh out loud after reading your column on your scrooge co-workers. But I must say I really can't blame them. It may be the most wonderful time of the year when the actual time of year gets here (which is December 25th by the way). Leading up to that point though one can't help but get nauseous listening to Christmas songs over and over and over again. Especially the most nauseating of them all Michael "take some singing lessons" Buble. And every trip to the store is a reminder of a holiday that is still two months away as Halloween decorations have barely been put away and now we're getting Christmas toys and decorations shoved down our throats in every direction we turn.

Let's not forget the people that gulp down their Thanksgiving dinner and run out the door leaving their families behind so they can save a buck on some stupid black friday holiday sale. And the endless commercials to remind us to open our wallets and purses and spend "BIG" so you can spend the new year working two jobs to crawl out of credit card debt so you can do it all over again next year! Ah yes the most wonderful (and broke) time of the year.

Does anyone celebrate the real reason for Christmas anymore which is to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ? Maybe some of us are just old fashioned. I remember listening to Christmas music with my family while cutting out green trees and wreaths and red ribbons and white snowflakes and taping them to the windows in the house while mom and my sisters baked Christmas cookies. Good times! And barely being able to sleep at night waiting for Santa to come.

So I don't think that we're necessarily all scrooges but too much of anything can ruin a good thing. In conclusion since I refuse to say Happy Holidays I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy new year!

Bill Hiller 
Stafford Springs, CT