No snow in a Mississippi Christmas

Published 11:11 am Monday, December 22, 2025

From the looks of the weather forecast, it appears I am going to be disappointed again this year: no White Christmas, no one-horse open sleigh ride, and no chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Our songs and traditions this time of year sure paint a pretty picture! Unfortunately, almost every Christmas season I’ve ever experienced in Mississippi has found me wearing shorts on Christmas Day. I think the forecast calls for a high of 74 degrees on Christmas Eve, 73 on Christmas Day, and 75 the day after.

Even though the weather disappoints me, I love my Christmas traditions. As silly as it sounds for a grown man, I love Christmas socks and wear them throughout the year. I grew up with a mom who made fresh eggnog. I haven’t had any homemade in years, but I purchase some every season.

In true Clark Griswold fashion, no Christmas would be complete without proper outdoor Christmas illumination. To make it even funnier, you can’t see my lights unless you come up our very rural driveway. Yes, the lights are just for me.

Speaking of Clark and company, my sweet indulgent wife always watches Christmas Vacation at least once each season with me. And then there are my other favorite Christmas shows and movies: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charlie Brown’s Christmas, the Grinch, and Home Alone. (Also, I vote that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.)

And because my wife indulges me, I’ve been known to indulge her by sleeping through, er, I mean watching a Hallmark Christmas movie or two. She’s just blessed like that. What a guy I am!

But moving on from praising myself, when my oldest son got married, his wife brought us a new Christmas tradition: the Christmas Pickle ornament. You hide it on the tree, and whoever finds it gets to open the first present. I’m not sure that one has much of a future. Nevertheless, I unabashedly love Christmas.

Here’s my Christmas rule: “If you quit believing in Santa Claus, you get clothes for Christmas.” Not this guy. I’m all in it for the toys. (You may be familiar with the adage that the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys—I resemble that remark.)

And in case you are wondering what to get me, my sizes are .45, 9mm, .233, .22, .380, and 12 gauge. Smile! It’s all in good fun.

In the immortal words of Clark Griswold, “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together.”

And we are. May your blessings be great, and your opportunities and abilities to bless others be even greater.

Merry Christmas!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”

A unique style of dining, featuring a giant lazy Susan and tables seating upwards of 15 people, invites people to step out of their comfort zones to share a meal with strangers. (AP Video: Sophie Bates)

Jayden Epps scored 19 points and Josh Hubbard scored 17 points and Mississippi State fought off Memphis for a 71-66 win on Saturday.

The Bulldogs overcame 29% shooting (6 of 21) from 3-point range and shooting 55% (18 of 33) from inside the arc. Overall Mississippi State (7-5) finished at 44% (24 of 54).

Reserve Curtis Givens III scored 18 points, fellow reserve Aaron Bradshaw scored 12 and Ashton Hardaway 11 for Memphis (4-7).

A three-point play by Givens with 8:12 left gave the Tigers their first lead of the second half, 53-50. Hubbard’s basket gave the Bulldogs the lead back, and his two foul shots with 3:03 remaining made it 61-58 and they led the remainder.

After Givens made a 3 to get Memphis within 69-66 with 23 seconds to go, following a Mississippi State timeout, Dug McDaniel stole Shawn Jones Jr.’s inbounds pass and saved the ball before landing out of bounds. Memphis secured the ball, but in the frantic activity, the Tigers gave it back to Mississippi State when Julius Thedford threw it out of bounds in a miscommunication with a teammate.

After being fouled with 15 seconds left, Hubbard sank two foul shots to seal it.

The Bulldogs now have won three straight and four of their last five.

Up Next

Memphis hosts Alabama State on Monday.

Mississippi State hosts Alabama State on Dec. 29.