January, The Cruelest Month

In October, we anticipate the fun of Halloween masquerades and candy.

In November, we anticipate the bounty of Thanksgiving.

In December, our eyes are aglow as we think of Christmas.

And then we celebrate New Year's Day on the 1st of January.

And then what do we celebrate?

 Not much.

February brings us Groundhog's Day, the Super Bowl,

Valentine's Day, and Mardi Gras, but January? 

January is where we discover that winter crept in 

somewhere between Christmas planning and Christmas celebrating.

photo courtesy of morguefile.com

There are no fun holidays in January to look forward to. 

In Virginia, we celebrate Lee-Jackson Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

on the same holiday in January, but let's face it, 

 commemorating three historic personages

doesn't impart a sense of childlike anticipation and joy.

There aren't even any cupcakes.

And that's one reason why January is the cruelest month.

Where's the fun?

Think about it.

January: all the Christmas decorations have to be taken down;

we tell ourselves we have to eat better, to exercise more.

Christmas bills arrive.

January: back to school, back to work.

January: cold and flu season.

January: Cold gray days followed by cold dark nights.

January: thirty-one days without a decent holiday.

It's enough to make me want to hibernate like Punxsutawny Phil,

but rather than risk coming out only to find six more weeks of winter,

 I'd stay burrowed until at least March, maybe April.

At least until there's a party.

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