It’s that time of year again. You know, time to buy gifts for people you haven’t talked to or seen for almost a whole year. Time to rush to Toys R Us to get that Spongebob Squarepants money clip for your boss before it’s sold out (too late).

I’ve been around the block for a while - about 31 years - and I guess in the early days it was cool. Here I am, two months old, and… actually, I don’t really remember that far back.

What I do remember is that when I was younger, the holidays were about giving.

Not that that has changed much, but boy have perceptions changed.

I remember when I wanted a bike. I was 6 or 7 years old.

I was a city boy, and I didn’t know how to ride a bike. I just wanted one. Now!

Eventually, I ginally got it, and my parents told me that I would have to put it together myself (read: they didn’t know how to do it, either). Here I am, 8 years old now, and I have a screwdriver and about 300 pieces of an orange clusterfuck on the living room floor.

Seven weeks later (give or take a month) I was done. My brand new bike. And I couldn’t ride it until April. Remember, I’m a city boy. A New York City boy. Where they have snow. Since then, the white devil has been my enemy.

Okay, I was younger. I didn’t really know that much, but I was taught that you should be more considerate; to give back to community, or to donate and give to those that don’t have.

Now, signs have indicated that the meaning of Christmas has changed over the years. About then years ago, you didn’t see a Santa, hear a Christmas song on the radio, or see any kind of decorating until Thanksgiving Friday. This year, you see all that and more BEFORE Halloween! Before!

And Valentine’s Day? Don’t get me started. I’m getting my special someone a card this year. Maybe. She’s definitely getting all my love and devotion. Do I really need to take her out to Tavern on The Green and trip the light fantastic for her just becayse it’s the 14th of February? Am I the only one who knows what Saint Valentine really did?

It’s all commercial. Spend your money. Buy my product. Spend! Spend! Spend!!!

I’m not going to be all hypocritical and talk this talk, and head to Toys R Us after I post this. I don’t donate, and it’s been a long time since I’ve dedicated to charity. But I’ve done it. And I’ll do it again. And most importantly, I’ll be teaching my kids about that down the road when they get older.

Until then, buy me a bike!