Sure, I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating…life is not for the faint of heart.

Case in point…December. The shortest month of the year. Even if you don’t live in an arctic climate, you are still faced with shorter days and longer nights. If you’re like me, you live in a climate that can’t make up its mind between good and bad weather. One day we’re basking in the glory of sunny skies and balmy temperatures, then the next, we’re plunged into winter. Complete with freezing temperatures, spitting rain, and wind.  Everything but the actual snow.

So, here I am, torn between hot and cold flashes that have absolutely nothing to do with my age, thank you very much! My furnace has no idea whether to blow hot or cold air, and I’ve taken to stocking up on both hot chocolate and ice cream.

And it’s not just a matter of what to wear, although that has been a challenge. The limited daylight brings with it the annual cycle of depression. The joy and anticipation of Christmas is always immediately followed by the intense cookie withdrawal, and the dread of the decoration clean-up.  I have a tree that failed to remind me to water it, and is now dropping needles faster than I can vacuum them up.  I know I should take it down, but there are still a few days until New Years, and I like the pretty lights.

I suppose I could always get a potted fig and string it with lights, but somehow I don’t think it would be quite the same.

Finally…and this is really the most important part…my birthday is coming up. (Saturday to be exact.)  And despite the number of candles on my cake, I’m actually looking forward to it. I do worry that it will come and go with barely a whisper, as time certainly seems to move faster with each passing year.  

So there you have it. If you’re going to make it through the month of December, you have to be strong. And you should probably stock up on candy canes to get you through the nights. Ok, so perhaps wine would be better.  But you must tread carefully just the same.

Or maybe I’m being melodramatic…it wouldn’t be the first time. You know what they say about withdrawal…it’s a painful process.  And I’ve been out of cookies for days!

Until the next time…I’ll be counting down the days until my birthday!