HAPPY DAY-AFTER-CHRISTMAS!

As the tinsel settles amid heaps of wrapping paper, bows and boxes, life begins to get back to a normal beat - except for de-decorating, which some of us leave until New Year's Day. But for other folks, tossing out the tree with it's needles leaving behind a prickly green trail the day after Christmas is better than heading to the mall to exchange gifts and shop for bargains; better than yesterday's Christmas dinner; better than Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." Packing up the baubles and lights is closure. It's signals a new beginning. The rooms are yours again. The clutter you can't dust is gone and there are shining wood surfaces where miniature sleighs and reindeer stood. No twinkling lights, no little drummer boys or toy soldiers on the mantle, the fake snow is gone like the Christmas ads that have filled the airways since before Thanksgiving.

For those who wait until New Year's Day to de-decorate, it's probably even more of a new beginning what with the new year and all, but that week in between Christmas and New Year's leaves one in limbo, doesn't it? You're neither here nor there. You're letting go of the beautiful season celebrating the holidays and anticipating the celebration of the New Year. What doe's one do in that period? Shouldn't there be some sort of ritual planned for that week between? If it were the other way around, and New Year's came first, folks could use that period of time in between to recover from celebrating.

One thing I know for sure is that the holidays can be stressful, especially when you're young. Anticipating getting a special gift from someone, or picking out gifts that will be meaningful (and that you can afford), and then the required family and/or office parties leave you feeling lower than a snake in a wagon rut. And how about what to do for New Year's? If you weren't invited to a party you felt even more depressed and dorky. Fortunately, as one grows older, none of this stuff is as important, and it's just very nice to be with family or friends - no unreasonable expectations, no pressures, and if you don't get invited to a New Year's party, that's a GOOD thing. If you are fortunate enough to have good health and at least a few folks you like and who like you, that's enough. Of course, a good bottle of wine and some popcorn and peanut brittle help, too . . .

Now I have to go take down my Christmas decorations.