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That Odd Time of Year

Read more articles on Life's Nuances and Let Me Share With You.

December 27, 2006

About This Editor: Karen has enjoyed her many varied experiences in corporate business management, dance education, and preschool assistance. She hopes to write about these past lives-and more-from her home in Pittsburgh, PA, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and 3 cats.

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I always felt this time of year to be rather odd. It’s a bit like the summer, when all of the kids are out of school (without camps or activities to distract them, though) but with many adults still working. When one does go to work, it’s pretty much business as usual, even though there’s madness at the top of the ladder in analyzing year end results and preparing for changes in the upcoming year.

The craziness of buying is over, to be replaced by the craziness of returning. After-Christmas sales signs have sprung up everywhere, forcing us to wonder about what it is we could possibly need at this time next year. Already, Valentines’ items are displayed; why aren’t I surprised?

I’ve finally stashed my re-usable ribbons and packed away my menorahs. I love the cards I’ve gotten, but no one can keep every card from every holiday, so that’s another job: deciding which to keep and which to recycle. I put the photo ones on my fridge for awhile and wonder if others do the same…

Historically, I take down my tree before New Year’s, even though I consider the lights a pretty addition to my family room. But I wouldn’t want to keep it up until mid-January, either; that would take away the fact that it’s really something special. Regardless, to me, it’s really not part of New Year’s. I’ve always considered New Year’s as its own holiday, because my mother always bought special decorations and food to give it fair due. So, in the next few days as I take it apart, I wonder what will be going on in my life when I see my ornaments once again. Of course, once you take down a Christmas tree, even a small one, there seems to be a void. No matter how you may rearrange furniture, it still doesn’t look normal for awhile.

I like a feng shui approach to the New Year, literally going “out with the old”. I try to throw out anything old or broken out this week, and give away what is no longer used. Along with that comes the year end financial reckoning and discarding old receipts and bills. It gives me a sense of clearing all bases and starting a fresh slate.

So, all in all, I find it a rather poignant week. Some folks are still away visiting relatives or vacationing, but the rest of us are making that transition from holiday to holiday to back to normal. Kids are already getting bored and gifts have lost their mystique. A whole new year is beckoning, and with it comes the knowledge we’re all going to be another year older. It’s funny to realize that we think the same thing at this same time every year-such is the never ending circle.