Holiday magic

Dear Santa,

I don’t like January. The holiday magic disappears the day we pack up the ornaments and take down the tree—all the merriment carefully wrapped in tissue paper, tucked in boxes, and stacked in the silent recesses of the basement. Snow no longer is a dispenser of holiday cheer; it’s just cold. As if orchestrated, all the energy that only a few days earlier infused everyone suddenly lies as dormant as the trees lining Main Street Danville.

I always suspected that New Year’s Day is just a transition from the holiday season back to normal life—one last celebration of food, family, and festivities. Don’t get me wrong—I love our German tradition of  “lucky” pork and sauerkraut, but this holiday is more bittersweet than celebratory. New Year’s resolutions, made in the remnants of the holiday hopefulness, soon loose their luster and are forgotten along with the carols that no longer serenade the days.

But, thankfully, CentreTerm this January has restored some of the lost holiday sparkle. One class, three hours every day helps to combat post-Christmas blues better than any New Year’s resolution! I’m taking Women and Spirituality—a close look at the female principle in religion from prehistory to its modern implications. It's empowering, challenging, engaging, and old-fashion fun. The first day, our professor demonstrated giving birth in an attempt to convey the magic and mystery of women’s life-giving power. And that was just the beginning!

The Yuletide season’s magic may be hibernating in the North Pole with you and Rudolph, but this year Santa, the post-Christmas letdown has met its match!

Wishing you a very merry January,
A life-long believer

P.S. I hope you liked the gingersnaps!