This is one of my favorite weeks out of the year.

I think of it as "the quiet week at the bottom of the year." The hectic-rush part of Christmas is over, but it is not so far past that people are rushing to put away the decorations. There is still the pleasant glow and warmth of the holiday to be enjoyed, there are (hopefully) new books to read, new craft supplies to contemplate, new tea to sample. Typically, in my family, it is the time where no one has to go anywhere or be anywhere - where we sort of stay in, and pursue our own interests, or get together and play board games in the evening.

It is still too soon to think about getting back to work (you must understand that we are all - with the exception of my sister-in-law - in academia [or retired from same], so we get long breaks at Christmas). It is even too soon to think much about writing syllabi, or revising papers, or really doing anything associated with "work."

So it is a nice, quiet time. A time to savor the last bits of enjoyment of the holiday just past, a time to look towards the new year with hope and expectation. (I am often glad to see the old year go - and 2008 will be no exception, as it took several people (and one cat) I love away from me. But I always hope the new year will be better than the old one was).

I hope you have the chance to enjoy some quiet time this week. I know most of my readers are not in academia, so you are probably not blessed with the long break-time. But perhaps this week of the year is quiet in most places-of-work, there's enough food left from whatever big feasts you've had, and you can anticipate the coming of the new year.