It smells like someone’s burnt popcorn in the kitchen at work. It’s okay, I did too last night. Sitting at my desk, decorations surround me. Wrapping paper, desk trees, lights and candy canes strewn about the office. Some have wrapped the fronts of their desks. I’ve got a Charlie Brown tree on my desk, it’s third sad year. Holiday parties held by every department this week. Food for the taking in the kitchen and baked goods everywhere you look. Everyone’s wearing sweaters now, talking about time off, not much work happening this week.

But I do not feel festive this year. There’s no tree up at home. I haven’t shopped around much. As the holiday approaches, I don’t feel any sense of giddiness or excitement. I’m not that into it this year. I don’t know why it is. Each year passes with less fanfare than the last.