There was a time in my life when Christmas smelled like fir trees and hot cocoa. There was a time when getting a “Twister” game would have been a treat. There was a time when I could count on my grandparents giving all my cousins and me a “book” that contained lifesavers of all varieties packaged within its covers.

There was a time when I wanted a hot wheels set and a boomerang. There was a time when going to sleep Christmas Eve was nearly impossible, and yes, I listened for Santa on the roof. There was a time when I lived in California where we had no working chimney and yet the fact Santa was coming down it still seemed plausible.

There was a time when a brand new Christmas cartoon was going to air that night, something called “ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and I saw its first airing. (This was after the yearly ritual of watching “ A Charlie Brown Christmas” had taken place.)

There was a time when I got a Slinky in my stocking and was overjoyed even though I broke it within the hour. There was a time when both my parents were alive on Christmas and me and my sister and my two little brothers celebrated as a family and thought it would always be that way.

There was a time when I got my first pellet gun for Christmas. There was a time when we sang Silent Night at our Christmas program at school. We also had a Christmas break. There was a time when getting presents was by far better than giving them.

There was a time when I went from hating clothes for Christmas to actually liking them. There was a time when some of my Christmas was spent at a girlfriend’s house instead of at home. There was a time when I had my first Christmas tree with my wife and it was small and we decorated it and had eggnog.

There was a time when a Christmas card had a picture of me and my wife and a sonogram. There was a time when we put a Santa hat on a 6 month old and sent that card out. There was a time when we got Barney and Tele-Tubbie’s videos for our kids for Christmas.

There was a time when my kids got there first bike for Christmas and we made cookies for Santa and he always took a bite and spilled a little milk. There was a time when I felt my kids would always want a picture with Santa.

There was a time that I thought my daughter would never be embarrassed to hold her dad’s hand at the mall. There was a time when I thought my kids would always think I was smarter than they were.

There was a time when I realized my son doesn’t need me as much as I needed him too. There was a time when I thought I would never grow old.

There was a time when I actually believed I had all the time in the world.

Merry Christmas my friends.