"This is for your birthday AND Christmas!"

December 22. The first day of the Zodiac Sign "Capricorn". It is also Winter Solstice, the first day of Winter. It just so happens to be the shortest day of the year as well. Maybe that's another reason as to why I always get shorted when it comes to birthday gifts. Yes, along with these events, I, Myron Marquis Abernathy, began my wonderful existence on December 22, 1982, somewhere between 10pm and midnight that night. Just a few short days before Christmas.

As I realize that I have exactly two weeks left before my 28th birthday, I must mentally prepare myself for the negative side-effects that come with being born on such a glorious day. You see, most people have at least a month of a cushion, if not more, of time between their birthday and good ol' Christmas Day. Even if you're not showered with gifts on either of those days, you don't really have to worry about those two days running into each other and end up getting what I like to call a "combo gift." Unfortunately, for my fellow December babies and I, people look at the fact that we're born so close to Christmas and decide to lump those days together.

Now, I can understand if someone's birthday is precisely the same day as Christmas. People would have an excuse (although a very shady one) to hand that person just one gift, saying to them "This is for your birthday and Christmas." I still sympathize with these unfortunate souls, however. If your birthday is anywhere close to Christmas (heck, even if it's a few days after), people still seem to count it as being on Christmas. But we shouldn't have to suffer for it.

Here's my beef with the whole thing. First of all, although I like receiving gifts on Christmas day as much as the next person, Christmas is not about me. It is about celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ was born. Second, my birthday is not on Christmas Day. Whether my birthday is 3 days before or 100 days before, it is not on the same day. There is no need to associate my birthday with Christmas. If you associate my birthday with Christmas, it is because you wanted to. For someone to hand me one gift and say "This is for your birthday and Christmas," that lets me know that said person was trying to take advantage of the proximity of dates, saying to one's self: "His birthday is so close Christmas, I can get over on him and only get him one gift." For any ladies reading this, imagine for a moment that your birthday is on Valentine's day. Would you let your significant other get by with just getting you one present and saying it's for both? Don't worry, I'll wait... Yeah. I didn't think so.

Don't get me wrong, it's not about the gifts to me. As Big Worm said at the end of "Friday", It's the principal of the whole thang. It's principalities in this. Honestly, if someone were to get me only one gift and say it was for my birthday, leaving it at that, I'd be fine. I really don't care what the gift is. It could be a simple birthday card, or even a hug for that matter. Just don't tell me that it's supposed to count for both days. Even if you don't get me a gift and you just simply tell me "Happy Birthday," I'm cool with that. I very much appreciate it. Just don't try to cram it all together, saying "Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas."

I'm equally conflicted if I should so happen to plan a birthday party or get-together for myself. Now, if there is any day where you're allowed to be the least bit selfish, it's your birthday, right? I shouldn't have to plan my birthday around other people. I mean, after all, it is my birthday, right? Unfortunately, being that my birthday is so close to Christmas, if I expect anyone to be at said birthday party, I pretty much have to cater to other people's schedules. Most people are probably already headed out of town to spend time with their families by the time my birthday rolls around. I can't realistically expect anyone to put me before their families. My mom has it just as bad; her birthday is on New Year's Eve. She's decided that she doesn't want a birthday party unless it is not on her birthday. Why? Because if it is on the night of her birthday, it will eventually stop being a birthday party for her and transition into a New Year's Eve party, whether it's planned that way or not.

So, please do be considerate of those who happen to be born in the month of December, especially if their day of birth has a two-digit number beginning with a "2". I mean, we had no control over the fact that our parents decided to do what they did nine months before Christmas. I'm pretty sure if we were conscious enough while in our mother's womb and knew what we were about to get into, we'd have either pushed ourselves out early or held onto the umbilical cord until January rolled around. But of course, this was beyond both our power and comprehension. We are forever both blessed and cursed by our time of birth.