Today is December 20th and I will be back in the swing of things in exactly 14 days.

Between now and then comes Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  And if I am being honest about it, I am not really in the holiday spirit.

Having been off work for the past two months has been an experience, and while I know, at this point I have yet to win the lottery and I have to go back, part of me is excited about it.  A teeny, tiny part of me.  The part of me that misses the daily face to face interactions with people who have come to be like family over the past decade or so.

Then there is the other part of me.  The part of me that has enjoyed the freedom to write whenever the opportunity presented itself, the part of me that has grown to really like naps, and the part of me that binge-watched all manner of television (I think I may have a problem) is going to miss the ability to make or break my own schedule.  There have been a lot of times when I had no idea what day of the week it was, and it really didn’t matter.  Once, when I confessed to a friend that I had been fully convinced that it was Thursday when it was in fact only Tuesday, she chuckled and said, “That’s what it’s like when you retire.”.

So, here I am, 5 days to Christmas, worrying about office culture, weather delays and whether or not (let’s be clear, not) I remember my passwords.  I don’t know how people do it when they have to come back after maternity or paternity leave.  But they do, and so will I.

With regard to the holidays, it’s not that I am feeling particularly Grinch-esque.  I am kind of not feeling anything.  Holidays are a difficult time for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons.  This year, I am feeling disconnected and absent.  I don’t think I can fully lay that at the feet of the minor trepidation I feel associated with getting back into the groove of things, but it certainly plays a role.

All that to say, “bedtime” is going to be a thing again all too soon.  But until then, let us go forth, eat lots of yummy things and kiss – whether it be under the mistletoe, when the ball drops, or for any ole reason.

Happy Holidays Everybody!

Wishing you All the Best for a Happy and Healthy 2019