Well, another really cold night last night - our thermometer was bouncing off the zero mark. It got as low as one above, and that's close enough! Tonight I'm reading 23 degrees, and falling.

People are beginning to feel the strain that always comes with the holidays. Most of us have overdone either preparing the Thanksgiving meal or eating it, but instead of getting a break, we are now getting daily countdowns of how many days we have until Christmas. If that doesn't send your blood pressure soaring, I don't know what will. I think the best we can do is admit that it's a difficult few weeks and try to make things easier by planning ahead and being realistic about how much you can do. It won't hurt to cut back on some things, and it may help to also take time to do some of the things that make you happy, like going to a Christmas concert or going skating or sliding with your kids. Make a snowman, like in a Hallmark movie! (I'm surprised at how many people confessed to me after my recent blog about Hallmark movies that they watch them, too!)

Today I was thinking back to years ago when it seemed as if there weren't enough days to fit all the holiday events in. We had to plan a year ahead and coordinate with other events in town to figure out a time to have the church craft sale or luncheon. And in addition to the traditional community events, there were house parties and office parties every weekend from Thanksgiving on. Just about every house was decorated inside and out, too. That used to be one of the highlights of the season - to drive around St. Johnsbury to see all the Christmas decorations. There was a contest every year, and the competition was stiff. I suppose they still do all those things, but it's been a while since I've lived there. There were a number of restaurants that hosted parties, and they were always booked solid. Not that I an the least bit interested in all that activity. I get tired just writing about it. We had great fun, though.

The best parties back in the day (but not for Christmas) was when Dean Finney brought name bands to St. Johnsbury. The radio station was WTWN back then, and somehow Dean was able to get big bands - I think Les Brown was one, and maybe Tommy or Jimmy Dorsey. It was back in the early 1950s, so it's hard to remember, but it was great fun. I guess big bands were kind of fading out even then, but it was great music.

Now, I enjoy concerts on TV more than getting out in the cold and driving on snowy roads to one. It comes with "maturity."