Down Time

The interval between Christmas and the New Year is always a welcome respite, an intermission between the tsunami of Christmas and the tide resuming to its normal lunar pull.  I’m usually alone and the house is still.  Even Sadie seems to snuggle up in her blankets for longer stretches.  

This is a good time to assess.  Did I decorate enough, too much?  Too many, too few gifts?  Did everyone have a good time--family, friends?  

The media create unrealistic standards about what the holidays should look like.  I usually find what I see is over-the-top--so I do just what feels right for me.  I don't like to rearrange my house for Christmas.  I may put away pillows or move a chair for a tree, but not much more.  I put a couple festive items in each room to focus on--pillows, candles, greens, maybe a small themed tabletop tree--and decide on spots for my collections of snow globes and German smokers and nutcrackers.  And some years I give myself a reprieve.  I don’t go full throttle decorating every year (when daughter and hubby won't be here on Christmas, I may not put up trees) which makes it all the more enjoyable when I do.

I don't have enough people (for my enthusiasm) to buy gifts for.  So perhaps I overdo.  But I try to give each person and gift thought.  I buy throughout the year if I see things that a recipient would like or they mention something they want.  I almost never need to shop to fill a gift need.

 

I like to spend time and share experiences with the people I love.  And I love traditions.  My daughter and (happily) my son-in-law enjoy high tea, so we often find a special holiday venue.  This year we had tea at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.  Like many, I feel I've seen the Nutcracker enough for a lifetime (but if I had a child who I could expose to the magic--I'd gladly reconsider).  This year I met a girlfriend at a festive cozy bar for a couple Hot Toddies, and even that put me in the holiday spirit(s!).  There are so many holiday rituals families and friends can share, and new traditions to begin.

During this pause, I read the 'family update letters’ that were tucked inside a couple cards and take a good look at the growing children in all the photo cards I received.  I also allow myself a few too many minutes on Instagram, looking at how others celebrated.  But mostly I relax and rejuvenate.  I put quite a bit of effort into the holidays, and when the activities are over, this is my quiet time.

But also, as much as I love Christmas decorations, the minute the 26th dawns, I’m eager to take them down.  I’m ready for a clean slate (like the hibernating garden provides this time of year) for everything to feel--my version of--minimal.  My deadline is New Years.  So after a couple days of doing nothing, I take a room at a time and tuck away all the cheer.  Fortunately, in this house I have storage in most rooms for that room's decorations.  So no more wrapping and boxing every item!  ALSO, shrink-wrapping my totally-decorated trees was a huge success and massive time saver.  Why haven't I gone viral for this??! ;)  So, with a little help, I'll wheel them into the garage until next year.  Really, no excuse not to pull out my trees every year!

And then...after a restorative week...I resume my life in a new year.