January Jumping Jacks

 

This week was house-putting week. That is, putting away all the pretty, shiny, sparkly, joyful decorations and live through two months of gray skies, weather beaten landscaping, and losing my holiday tonnage.

Today I threw out the last of the candy, nuts, and anything else that looked edible and replaced it with vegetables and yogurt. That is what winter looks like to me. That and jumping jacks.

That's what my doctor advised. Those spine-jolting, childish movements will supposedly help me prevent osteoporosis. Ha.

So is there anything to feel upbeat about this time of year? Well, there are those endless sale bins of leftover holiday wares. The stores don't give up until every last broken, dented, shopworn trinket is carried away to be thrown into the customer's closet or garbage can. Jerry falls for that every year. During the first years of our marriage, he seemed to think that was an appropriate way to shop for my birthday presents. Now he knows that jewelry is the secret to waking up on January 4th without a headache.

However, there is a little of what I think of as holiday scat still around my house. The tape that held garland in place, the paper snowflakes dangling from the ceiling, and that gift I received that was probably sitting in the corner of the gift-giver's basement all year until s(he) found the opportunity to regift it to me. No, it wasn't a fruitcake.

It's the time of year when 'Happy New Year' sounds sarcastic, but I say it still. Maybe all I need is a cheery outlook to get rid of the holiday hangover? Okay, I'll try that. I'll let you know how it works right after my lunch of yummy, fat-free yogurt.

Nancy Sherer

 

 


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