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That means somebody has to come to work on Dec. 25. I'm not asking for your pity, but I am asking for your help.
First, let me share a little of the back story.
In 2002, photographer Julian Carroll and I were tasked with finding kids who were enjoying their toys.
We found Bryson Rial playing with her new basketball. A PlayStation 2 was a big deal for Merrie Kyle Langley, and we caught Landon, Leanna and Logan Long showing off assorted bouncy balls. Meghan Brown basked in her abundance of new clothes.
We also spoke with people who were on the clock when most people were at home. We found a sheriff's deputy, an airport screener and the staff at the International House of Pancakes.
Now, let's flash forward to Christmas 2008, when the photographer was Thomas Wells. He and I stopped by North Mississippi Medical Center to talk with Abigail Clayton.
She'd caught a nasty bug, and wasn't able to eat or drink on Christmas Eve. She felt much better after Santa Claus turned her hospital room into a holiday room.
"I have a pony," said Abi, who was 4 at the time.
"It matches your boots," said Judy Hughes, an NMMC nurse. "You have a pink pony and pink boots."
"Mommy," Abi said, "I look like a cowgirl."
How cute was that?
And how could another kid top it this year, when photographer Deste Lee and I prowl Lee County in search of a story for the Dec. 26 newspaper?
I was having a tough time thinking of a new approach, so I turned to students from the Okolona Vocational Complex, who visited the Mighty Daily Journal on Tuesday.
I gave them a short version of what I told you and asked for ideas. One suggested going to people's homes and finding out what they fixed for Christmas dinner, but that sounded more like a story for Ginna Parsons, food editor.
Others repeated the toy idea and the working on Christmas idea that we've already covered.
Then came 17-year-old Kayla Chandler, who had what I consider a real winner of a working-on-Christmas-Day idea.
"Go see where people came from to have Christmas here," she said.
"Brilliant," I said. "I'm going to put your name in the newspaper on Saturday."
If you live in Lee County, this is where you come in: How far will folks travel to celebrate at your house? My phone number and e-mall address are at the bottom of this column.
Deste and I will pick two or three of those who traveled the farthest, then we'll drop by the house to ruin your Christmas.
No, no, no. Deste will be on her best behavior, I promise.
"Ha. Ha," Deste said. "You're just using my name because they wouldn't let you in without me."
Don't worry about getting us presents; just welcome us out of the cold on Christmas Day.
M. Scott Morris is a Daily Journal entertainment writer. Contact him at (662) 678-1589 or scott.morris@djournal.com.