My birthday is December 23rd. Two days before Christmas. The day when last minute gift ideas spring to life and all the shopping malls are packed with desperate, gift-hungry people. The day that gets overlooked because it is the eve before Christmas Eve. The day I was born.

This goes for all December birthdays. The "holidays" make it so we're not special. It's the most wonderful time of the year for everyone, but not us.

Now I'm going to talk about some December birthday don'ts and facts. To all those who share my lovely month, I hope I hit the nail on the head.

Combination Gifts. My mom has done a great job of trying to keep things separate, don't get me wrong. But it's obvious that one date carries more weight than the other no matter how hard she tries to make things special. Some are not so lucky. You get the candid birthday/Christmas combo gift, as if your birthday isn't good enough to stand alone. It's like a cop out of having to give you a gift twice a year. It's a bit of let down, don't you think? My December friends would surely agree.

"Oh, your birthday is around Christmas? That must stink!" Yes, we know. Stop reminding us.

"A Christmas birthday sounds kind of cool." No, it's really not. I'll admit when I was younger it had its perks. I built so much hype as a kid, having two days almost back-to-back to get presents, but that hype is long gone. Being an adult stinks.

Meeting someone with a December birthday and forming a bond immediately. It's like a code of conduct. A conversation starter. Only those who share the pain truly understand where you're coming from, right?

Either a strong devotion or dislike for the holidays. There is no in-between. And if there is an exception out there, I'm sorry, but I've never heard of you. People are either jamming to Christmas music or cringing at the mere mention of said music. I'm a bit of a Scrooge, myself. Maybe it's bitterness from being overlooked and forgotten during the most wonderful time of the year and having to turn around and celebrate other people's birthdays outside of your month. Who knows.

All I ask of you non-December people is that treat your December friends and make them feel special. Make them feel like they're on top of the world because all they hear right now is the sleigh bells a-ringing and the sound of registers clinging after shopping mall Christmas sales.

Make it the most wonderful time of the year for them, not everyone, on their day.

Is that too much to ask?