Snowmen, December, etc...

I've been thinking lately about the song 'Frosty the Snowman'. About a snowman who comes to life, play with kids, and then runs around cavorting through traffic and braving the bright, hot sun until he disappears. I rather like it. There just aren't many children's songs that deal with anthropomorphic sculptures that come to life, manic-depressive friends, and suicide all in one.

But December has always been an insidious month. Popularly it is called the holidays and we are supposed to eat, spend, be merry, and generally celebrates our asses off. I am unfond of December for several reasons. First, the weather - little sunlight, lots of snow, and cold temperatures. Second, Minnesotans know that after this month we still have three full months of winter left - too much! Third, Christmas/the holidays is a very commercial season that seems to be more full of stress and spending than actual joy these days. Fourth, the music. Right after Thanksgiving the radio and the muzak people start pumping the airwaves full of Christmas songs and they keep it up until after New Years. This is maddening. I happen to like this kind of music, but not nonstop. Put in one or two an hour or spare me your sick torture entirely, radio demons!