The holiday season is usually a joyous time for me, but this year, something feels different.

Maybe it’s all the hype about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Wal-Mart Wednesday, and the list goes on. Let’s just call it what it is -- a hyper-celebration of overconsumption and capitalism. You know, the idea of 500 people standing in line, starting at two in the morning, to trample each other for four HD televisions on sale for $300 dollars, it just doesn’t add up to holiday cheer.

I usually put up holiday decorations in just a few hours. This year, I realized the process was stretching out over several days.

I begin to turn inward. With the recession and losing a good friend and my mom within a few months of each other, both to cancer, this has been a pretty rough couple of years.

Those were all contributing factors. But then it hit me like a stray silver bell: There were no children around. All my nieces and nephews are grown up now.

I began to wax nostalgic as I remembered one Christmas my sister brought my twin nephews to North Carolina. We were so excited because the boys were still young believers in holiday magic and Santa. We went all out, and the tree, house and outside were done up like a page from Martha Stewart Living, minus drooling boxers on the furniture.

My nephews had requested scooters that year from Santa. So I bravely ventured forth to the toy store. I always loved shopping for my nieces and nephews because I got to be a kid again. (The toy world had certainly changed since Tonka trucks and GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip.)

I found the scooters and was told I also had to purchase the required helmet, knee, hand and elbow pads. I was like, they are riding scooters not trying out for the NFL. In my day, we went roller-skating in the street wearing cut-off jeans and tube socks. I guess this is a softer generation.

We created wonderful holiday memories for my nephews. We told stories, baked cookies and enjoyed each other’s company. The big night came and we set out cookies for Santa and even staged a Santa arrival with my partner on the stairs with jingle bells.

The only problem was, we had a bit too much holiday cheer (vodka martinis…smile) and Santa took a spill. My nephews were concerned but I thought quickly and said Santa suffered from vertigo the farther he got from the North Pole. They seemed to buy the story. Crisis averted.

The next morning was filled with breakfast, gifts being exchanged and us dressing our nephews and taking them outside for their maiden voyage up and down the sidewalk on their new scooters. All the work and sacrifice was worth it to watch those two laughing twin terrors glide gleefully up and down the street -- great holiday memory.

I know I have to get the Grinch off my back and get my holiday cheer back, but I also know I am not the only one feeling this way.

I offer Professor Locs Top Five indicators you might have the Grinch Blues:

5. You find yourself booing during the church Christmas concert.

4. You use a slingshot to take out one of the wise men in your neighbor’s nativity scene.

3. You ask the Salvation Army Santa for change.

2. You turn the sprinklers on the Holiday carolers.

1. You find yourself heckling the kid who plays Joseph in the school Christmas play.

If you, like me, are having the holiday blues, let us honor those who are no longer with us but rejoice in celebration with those who remain and be encouraged by the promise of new rituals and memories to come.

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