Today, I begin a long-awaited time away from productive employment. Most every year, my family and I head to warmer weather the week prior to a major December holiday.

As we head south, I'm sure we'll enjoy seeing the festive illuminating devices, and more than likely, our radio will be tuned to a station playing seasonal musical selections. We might even stop at a shopping mall to pick up last minute appropriate winter holiday gifts.

Translated: Today, I begin a vacation and we're heading south to spend the CHRISTMAS holiday. We'll enjoy seeing the CHRISTMAS lights, hearing the CHRISTMAS songs on the radio and we'll wind up buying someone a CHRISTMAS gift while we're on our trip.

I'm not going to get into a long-winded talk about the politically incorrect epidemic that's overtaken our country. But I will say this: Christmas IS Christmas. I don't buy HOLIDAY trees, I don't buy HOLIDAY cards, I don't play HOLIDAY carols. This season does not recognize the birth of someone named HOLIDAY.

After looking at not less than 15 calendars during the past couple of days, I've yet to see a single one that has December 25 listed as "HOLIDAY." Everyone of them has that day listed as "Christmas." I can't help but wonder if that'll change soon.

Upstairs in our house, my wife has a huge plant called a "CHRISTMAS CACTUS." None of the stickers at the nursery say "HOLIDAY CACTUS." With her pitiful green thumb, the gardeners there aleady laugh at her...I'd hate to think what they'd do if she went in asking for a holiday cactus.

And, if you've been to Boone, N.C., in the winter, you know you can't drive more than three miles without seeing a sign that says "CHRISTMAS TREE FARM-Turn Here." A sign painter would make a fortune if all of those signs had to be changed.

Oh, by the way...there are "CHRISTMAS WREATHS" for sale at those farms, too.

When I was growing up, our little town had people from many different walks of life. Some celebrated Christmas, some didn't. But guess what? NO ONE COMPLAINED. No one complained about the Christian symbols, no one complained about symbols of other faiths and...shocker of all shockers...people actually complimented each other about the pretty sights everyone - of all faiths - displayed. Why, they even helped each other put up their decorations.

As we all know, the tide turned a few years ago; and while I'm not going to place blame on any one person, there's enough guilt to spread around to some people of all religions, some members of the legal profession, various individuals of the media (and more) for sending things overboard - and, in the case of many people of all walks, not doing enough to stop it.

I wonder what will happen when Jesus Christ himself asks, "Why did you call me Holiday?"

Everyone's downstairs, yelling that they're about to leave without me - and trust me, they would. So, I guess before I go, I'll risk being labeled as politically incorrect and say ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and just for good measure...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!