The song is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It was recorded by Andy Williams on his first Christmas album in 1963. He’s the guy who gave the then-young Osmonds a boost into show business by putting them on his TV show.

(By the way, I was surprised to learn that Donny Osmond is in Scotland right now. He’s spending his Christmas vacation away from his show in Las Vegas. He’s playing Pharaoh in a short run staging of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in Edinburgh. He’s doing it at the request of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber) (There’s a Christmas gift idea. Get tickets and hop on a plane to Scotland. Stranger things have happened.)

Anyway, back to my “ear worm” of the “hap-happiest” song. (Oh, another “by the way” – earworm was a term started by the Germans more than 100 years ago, referring to what scientists call “stuck tune syndrome” and “musical imagery repetition.”)

So, this past Saturday, I walked into the Golden Corral buffet restaurant in Orem for a family holiday/birthday celebration luncheon. There on the wall, in huge lettering, as part of the décor, was this slogan message: “Help Yourself to Happiness.” Of course, I saw that and then all I could think of was that it’s the “hap-happiest time of the year.”

And then I paused and asked myself, “Self, have you just unwittingly stumbled upon the true source of happiness? Is happiness right here in front of you right now? Is the answer to life’s greatest question about finding happiness: All you can eat buffet food!?”

As I pondered that and greeted family members, I was given relief from my “stuck song” in my head. But questions of happiness remained.

I know that Disneyland advertises itself as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” I have heard it said by others that it is also “the biggest human trap in the world – built by a mouse.”

Religious leaders tell us that there is a difference between pleasure and happiness. They say that acquiring things and becoming popular doesn’t bring genuine happiness. This point of view seems to poke a hole in my never-ending buffet as being happiness.

I recently saw the results of WalletHub’s annual report of “Happiest States in America (2024)” Once again, Utah scored high on the list — No. 4 in the overall rankings. We were beat out by Hawaii, Maryland and New Jersey in that order. Delaware was No. 5. Of interest to my friends and relatives in Idaho, some of whom I had lunch with on Saturday, you’re No. 8. Oh, and as for my genuinely happy Nevada relatives at lunch – you’re No. 37.

I used to know someone who lived in Louisiana. She’s since moved. The only one I can think of now from the Bayou State is U.S. Senator Kennedy (nicknamed Kornpone, by some).

He is endlessly entertaining with his folksy, witty remarks. A couple of examples: “This has been going on since Moby Dick was a minnow.” “Don’t stand between a dog and a fire hydrant.” Anyway, Louisiana came in dead last at No. 50 in the happiness research.

The rankings were based on lots of different factors. Those factors were lumped into three bigger categories. Utah ranked No. 1 in Work Environment and #1 in Community & Environment. Sadly, I feel, Utah’s position was No. 27 in Emotional & Physical Well-Being.

I believe that we in Sanpete are extra happy among the happy people in Utah. When people ask me how I’m doing, I’ll sometimes respond: “I’m as happy as if I had brains” or “I’m as happy as a pig in mud” or “I’m as happy as if I were twins.” (Maybe I should run for the senate in Louisiana.)

What I’m hoping as a result of writing this column is that you will start humming and singing in your head the lyrics, “It’s the hap-happiest time of the year” – from my head to yours. It is after all the Christmas Season, so let’s be happy together!

— Merrill

P.S. Let me tell you an embarrassing secret. Make sure you don’t let any of my relatives know. You’re the first and only ones I’m telling.

While at the Golden Corral Buffet, I loaded up two dishes of dessert – one of banana cream pudding with vanilla wafers and the other with cinnamon apple crisp.

While walking away from the dessert bar, I lost my grip on things (don’t ask me how) and both dishes went up in the air and both kerplopped onto the floor. I stood in shame near the goopy mess, keeping others from stepping in it, until I got the attention of a buffet employee.

I would rank her with a No. 1 rating in kindness, forgiveness, good-natured people skills, and happy disposition. She inspired happiness in me in that awful, awkward moment. I want to be like her during this hap-happy time of the year. (My “seconds” of dessert were delicious) MO