Opinion

Now what's going on

Friday, January 3, 2014

OK. Do you have your Christmas tree down or disposed of yet? Are all of your Christmas decorations neatly stored away in clearly-labeled boxes? Have all the snacks you bought or fixed for New Year's Eve been eaten up? Have you finished the last of your New Year's Day ham? Then I guess you are ready for the next thing. But what is it?

Ever since Labor Day, there has been something special coming up in just a few days or a couple of weeks. Through the autumn, we have had opportunities at sales events and civic gatherings to recognize various events or persons. In September, we have Patriot's Day on the 11th, and in October, there is Columbus Day and the biggie, Halloween. That is followed immediately by All Saint's Day, in November, and of course Election Day on the 4th. A week later we celebrate Veteran's Day, which we oldies remember as Armistice Day. Then, we look forward to what used to be a really big event, but recently, has become just a prelude to Christmas. Of course, I'm referring to Thanksgiving. We often have the traditional meal and the lucky people get a day or two off from work, but we celebrate in the midst of Christmas decorations and football games. December is almost reserved for Christmas, but there is Pearl Harbor Day on the 7th and Boxing Day, immediately after Christmas, which isn't given much notice in the USA.

Many of these dates that happen throughout the fall could call for decorations, shopping, parties, food preparations and maybe, even traveling. But now, we are in January. There is Martin Luther King Day on the 20th, but except for hearing the "I have a Dream" speech a dozen times during the day, or shortly before the day, it doesn't really require any change in our routine, except that some people do get a day off from work. Possibly, some stores will use that opportunity to offer bargains to those who are not at work.

But basically, it is a rather quiet month. Perhaps, you have been saying these last few weeks that you will sure be glad when we get back to the old routine. Well, here we are, so what are you going to do now?

I sometimes use this time to stay inside, read several books and serve things like potato soup and cornbread, or cornbread and beans, maybe with some of that left-over New Year's ham. My mother used this time to write letters to those who had sent her Christmas cards. I seriously doubt that I will do that, unless I know their email address, and then, I might make a comment in a note.

I saw a statistic lately that said a big percentage of high school or college graduates never read another book after they graduate. But there is the other percent who do read, now, even on electronic equipment. I can't think of a better way to spend a chilly afternoon than having some soup ready to warm up on the stove and being prepared to flop on the couch with a new book. Or sometimes, it is more fun to reread a book from your childhood. I am a detective story fan, especially if the detective or private eye is a woman. It is amusing to notice the difference in the really new novels that have modern equipment handy to help solve the crimes instead of the older type like Sherlock Holmes or Columbo, who solved the crime by noticing something no one else has seen.

There usually aren't as many social engagements in January. I think everyone else shares my enjoyment of being able to just lie back and take it easy. Of course, I will still want to keep up with my Scrabble games on Facebook and I won't forget my Free Cell games. I need to get my average up there.

I don't text people on my phone, or twitter, either. Actually, I don't know how to do either, but I have seen enough of my family members spending our gatherings quietly corresponding with someone not there,to know that I better not learn, or I might get hooked on that, also.

I grew up playing the Authors card game and I still think of literature in its many forms as the best form of entertainment, as well as knowledge.

Maybe, I'll see you at the library this month, but you won't see me much anywhere else -- that is, unless you are a United Methodist. I'll probably be there. Maybe, we could swap a book or two.