"The Christmas holiday was a chance to get some extra work done. A time for solitude."** Scrooge, A Muppet Christmas Carol*
If I could afford it, I would take off about 3 weeks in December.
And, yeah, partly that would be to get stuff done, so that I don't spend the last week before Christmas in a frenzy. But the main reason why is that I enjoy being able to have some time for quiet solitude and contemplation this time of year.
One of the few times I was able to achieve this winter solitude was when I was living alone in Sewanee. I lived in a little house a good way back from a quiet little road. I worked 2 or 3 jobs, but due to the nature of living in a quiet college town, there wasn't squat going on in December, so I may not have even been working much that particular December.
I would sit in the front window as the afternoon shadows grew long and the sun started setting about 4:30. I loved these winter sunsets, with their muted beauty and the smooth, subtle transition of the sky from gold to slate. I would watch the family of 8 deer (yes, really) that frequented my yard and were so comfortable with me that they would hang out around my car and come up almost to the steps of the porch. I would light my candles and play my soft Christmas music (Windam Hill in particular makes me think of quiet winter evenings) and just sit. And be quiet. And have space and room to think and recharge.
It may sound too idyllic, too good to be true. And it is true that during this same period of time I was lonely and barely making ends meet. There were a lot of less-than-positive things going on for me during this time period. But I honestly don't remember them as richly as my quiet December evenings.
There is a big difference between being lonely and being alone. There are times that I like to be alone. There are times that I need to be alone. I actually am a firm believer in the idea that everyone needs a certain amount of time alone to just be quiet and reset.
And don't get me wrong, I am happy with my life. I have a good job and a wonderful husband, and we both have family and friends who love us and want to spend time with us. But if I could change one thing, it would be to somehow - maybe with a time turner - find a few extra days this time of year when I could have some time for solitude.
*Also quite possibly lines from the original.
**Yes, I know he didn't actually believe that. It's still a good line.