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Yes, ladies, we are on the eve of what a lot of men would call “Christmas.” It’s Football Season.

It’s that time of the year when we say goodbye to the men in our lives before they leave us from Thursdays through Mondays, from now until early February, for wings, nachos, cold beer, and good old American football.

This is by far no breakup, but we all know we won’t see much of them during this time of year. And if we do, their normal loving ways might only come alive if their team actually wins.

I used to dread this time of the year. While he was away on his football vacation, as I would call it, I would drag myself around the house missing him. I didn’t know what to do with myself, as most weekends were spent with him. I would reminisce about all the wonderful moments we shared together over the years. It was all I had to remember: his sweet face during the separation.

I did see him occasionally, but it was quite limited because weekdays were super busy for me. The weekends were normally our time together. But not now. Not during f*cking football.

No more romantic dinners. Forget early morning love-making. No sweet makeout sessions just because. To hell with midday bike rides, and say goodbye to late-night, drunk f*cking. Everything revolves around goddamn football now.

If I even suggested he skip just one game to snuggle with me for a few more minutes, you might have thought I’d asked him to jump off a bridge. “Babe! What the hell are you talking about? The game is about to start. I have to go.”

Oh, dear Lord…

But as the years moved along, I have discovered that this time apart is truly the best time of year after all. As much as I loved quality time with my sexy man, I equally loved quality time by myself. So when football season begins, this is the time of year when I get to do everything and anything I ever wanted to do—by myself. Without compromise, without arguments.

It’s all about me, myself, and I. I can do just about anything without feeling guilty for leaving him when I spend my “me time” throughout the rest of the year.

This is the time of year when I get my best girlfriend time. In my early 20s, I spent every waking minute with my girlfriends. We were breaking free from our parents, siblings, and family. We were making our own way in this world, and we were all we had.

As time went by, everyone started to couple up, get married, and have children. Our time together suffered. We were making our own lives apart from each other and became too busy to see each other even for a cup of coffee. It happens.

Football season is the perfect time to rekindle that girlfriend time. Most likely, their husbands are on a football vacation as well. This is as perfect as ever to bring back “girlfriend time.” It’s going on spa trips, brunch gatherings, and wine tastings.

This is the time of year when I get to spend time with my mother. I love her; she is the best mom ever. She lives so close to me, yet we hardly see each other. I left home when I was 18. I grew up fast and created a life for myself. Once I left, our mother-daughter time has diminished to holidays only. So I plan a fun mother-daughter bonding time together. It’s the least she deserves from me.

It’s time for planning day trips to the casino, gazing at the countryside’s fall foliage, and even a holiday shopping extravaganza.

I look for new projects around the house that I am normally too busy to do. I rearrange, reset, and recharge for the upcoming fall and winter. I pumpkin everything up in the house and burn apple candles. I even sage the house for unwanted energy. I can do this without someone complaining that the different smells give him a headache.

I even start a little binge-watching on Netflix, which I love since I don’t ever turn the television on throughout the year. It’s my guilty pleasure.

It’s enjoying time within to find happiness, pleasure, and comfort.

I take the time to learn something new. That’s when I take a new writing class, bake at a cooking school, and learn how to sow. It’s a great time to try on things I always wanted to do. It’s the perfect time to do something I never thought about doing. It’s a way to discover all that there is to learn. There is a big world out there, and I want to touch it all.

It’s making discoveries of all that there is to uncover in this magical world.

There was a time when I used to dread this season. I would try to get all my snuggle time in just before the start of it. But now, I say, “Bring on football season.” I’ve been waiting all damn year for this time—for me.