There's one thing I enjoy more than putting up the Christmas decorations, and that is taking them down. I'm not sure why, but I feel a huge sense of relief when the tree is out the door, the garland is off the stairway and every last pointsetta is in it's own black trash bag next to the recycling bin.
Getting rid of the holiday clutter brings me sweet relief...possibly it's that my introverted brain is relieved that all of the red is gone and that soft, colorless January has brought back visual tranquility to my surroundings. My mantels and my countertops are clear again, and I am renewed. Have you noticed the colors of this blog? The calm fish swimming above? The birds in flight? Bland some may say, but peaceful to me.
And this year, throwing out the Christmas tree inspired me further...to go through closets, my kitchen pantry and the basement storage areas. Out boxes of books that we moved from Chicago to Danbury to Harrington Court to Apple Brook Lane that are covered with a funky smelling mold. Out Chocolate Fountain that I bought years ago at a silent auction and that I will never have the inspiration or energy to set up. Out sports coats and collered shirts that no husband or son of mine will ever fit into again. Out empty dvd cases, vhs movies (even though many of them were Disney favorites of days gone by), and the Lord of the Ring water glasses dated December, 2001. (OK, I couldn't throw these out because in reading them one says Strider and the other Gandalf and for some reason this almost made me cry. . .but I put them into the "Save for Jake's Apartment" box that has replaced the moldy books).
So my living space is orderly again after the Christmas fun and excess. The boys are back in school, Al is traveling and I can order myself into a new year of activity. I'll start a couple of grad glasses at GMU (more on these later), go back to helping with the ESL program Tuesday nights, try my hand at substitute teaching, and stay away from the January sales racks. For now, the living room mantel is empty except for the Christmas angel San Miguel, who I've read is traditionally recognized as the protector of Christians against evil powers. He stays, along with all of my best intensions and plans and prayers to bring calm and productivity to the small piece of this world that I have been given.
