Not that that's a bad thing. The week after Christmas reminds me somewhat of Gary Jennings' book, Aztec, wherein he says that the ancient Aztecs had a week they didn't know what to do with on their calendar, so there was about five days or so in which nothing much happened while they waited around to get their calendar right again.
That feels something like the week after Christmas to me. Most of the big shots are on vacation so the news is all about year end stories--the best movies, the biggest events of the year, or, in this case, the decade.
The Aztecs "nothing week" had a dark mood to it--you didn't want to initiate anything during this period because it might be bad luck. We get a hint of that with our year-end "necrology," i.e. remembrances of those who have died during the year.
The difference between the day before Christmas and the day after reminds me of Robert Kagan writing about the difference between Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Mexico. Rarely on this globe, he says, do you see a greater difference in wealth and poverty in such a short space than you do when you go across the border from Nogales, AZ to Nogales, Mexico.
The week after Christmas is like that too. Before, it's all talk and events, conversations and song. The day after, it's quiet--literally--as a church mouse. If there were one here today, I could hear him scurrying along the wall. The phone doesn't ring. Nobody stops by. (While I don't want to think the people are sick of seeing me, I'm sure they can use a break.)
Personally speaking, I love Christmas with all its grandeur and hoohah, and I also love the day and week after Christmas, with its stillness and quietness, bringing things back into proportion. This is what Isaac Newton called "an equal and opposite reaction," and what J.S. Bach called "counterpoint."
Christmas is great in some ways, harrowing in others.
Obama came out in favor of giving dog-torturing gamblers a second chance, especially when they have Super Bowl prospects. Me, I'll be hoping Vick gets slammed viciously to the ground in every game, ideally winding up with a bell-ringer that leaves him thinking that he actually is a dog, or at least unable to get his tongue back in his mouth. Happy holidays.
Posted by: Hypatia | December 28, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Not to say that what he did was OK, but why the outrage over Vick, but no outrage over the athletes who beat their wives and girlfriends?
Posted by: John Petty | December 29, 2010 at 11:47 AM
It's a different issue. I'm sorry that more attention is not paid to domestic violence but I also don't see what that has to do with adulating Michael Vick, gambler and sadist. Obama was just shamelessly jumping on the bandwagon, and I was embarrassed for him. The principle is sound - people deserve a second chance. Vick isn't your poster guy for it, though.
Posted by: Hypatia | December 29, 2010 at 12:30 PM