[Magdalen] Quiet Pub

[Scott Knitter]

I'm managing to avoid, mostly, my annual "holiday season" severe
doldrums. I seem to get feelings of needing to be busy with
preparations but I haven't actually done a lot of holiday stuff for
years. Yet the feelings of needing to do them and fearing resentment
and judgment (from whom?) persist. I'm thinking it's akin to how I get
that happy "snow day" feeling when there's a huge snowfall and schools
are closed. I don't get a day off work, but the same feeling is still
there from when I prayed fervently at the radio to hear the name of
our school district. :)

Childhood Christmas was so wonderful because we had off from school
and didn't have to do much except play and get presents, right? And
now it's our turn to make Christmas wonderful. But without children,
there's not a great deal to be done (just for young nieces and
nephews, a gift and presence).

I'm more nervous about my mom's 80th birthday party on January 14 in
Michigan. My brothers and I are hosting a dinner with family and
friends at a restaurant private dining room. It's nearly all set up,
but heaven forbid I should wake up at night and start thinking about
it. Always something to stir the anxiety pot...

-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA