Everyone has an obsession. Some people are crazy about cats; others can’t get enough peanut butter or Michael Jackson songs. Me? My obsession is Christmas.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been smitten with the holiday season. As I grew older, my obsession reached a point at which Christmas music beginning in November wasn’t early enough for me. I needed Bing Crosby and Amy Grant and The Grinch earlier. I needed to start celebrating in October.

Katherine, my roomie, came back to our room a few nights ago just as Michael Bublé was singing the chorus of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

“Uh, Mel? Seriously? Are you really listening to Christmas music right now? It’s October … ” she said condescendingly, reminding me of the many who disagree with me about celebrating Christmas prematurely.

“Uh, no. I mean, yes. Yeah, yeah, I am.” I said. At first, I was embarrassed to be caught in the act. Usually, I keep my obsession under wraps until at least Nov. 1, when it’s beginning to be socially accepted to indulge your inner Christmas Freak.

But my embarrassment quickly turned to excitement as I informed her why it was so important to some people to start early — beginning with how wonderful the holiday is itself.

My little speech hit on all the points: the gingerbread cookies, the presents, the swirling snowflakes, the pretty ornaments, the lights, the made-for-TV movies void of a plotline, the presents, the sparkles, the presents, the parties, the rainbow candy canes, the greeting cards and the presents.

I could have gone on and on, but I ended with this statement: “The holiday season should start in October.”

Katherine gasped. I wasn’t surprised by her reaction; most people get really worked up over bypassing Thanksgiving and skipping right to Santa. (My family is the exception. We usually have our tree and outdoor lights up by the first week of November.)

But what’s so wrong about beginning the Christmas celebration a little early?

Perhaps if we stretched out the season a little bit more, it wouldn’t be so sad to see it go. Take it from me: There was a time (years and years ago) when I started Christmas in December. I always felt rushed, and when Dec. 26 came, I’d get hit with a horrible case of Post-Christmas Depression (PCD), a disease coined by yours truly.

When I started celebrating Christmas in October, PCD loosened his grip on my life, and I suddenly felt like the holiday season was never-ending.

And, what’s more, an elongated holiday makes for happier people and a happier me. They don’t call it “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for nothing. People are cheerier during Christmastime. I’m cheerier from Oct. 1 on. Shouldn’t everyone have the chance to be joyful for three whole months?

Realistically, I know the world will never allow Christmas to begin in October. I’m a self-proclaimed Christmas Freak. I’ve accepted it.

So the next time you hear a fellow Christmas Freak listening to the music of the season, don’t roll your eyes — join us.

_Melanie is a freshman in Media._