Five Years a Writer

  Suddenly it’s the final month of the year, the days are rushing by, each one bringing us closer to the holidays — whatever that means for you. December is a month of too much going on, too many expectations, and too little time to do it all with grace and charm.  Well. That’s my experience, anyway.  I remember this month from my full-time teaching days: The term is coming to an end, assignments are piling up — all needing to be graded; students are anxious about marks; Chairs are fierce about today's deadlines being met while also planning for the next term; and somehow in amongst all that are personal preparations for the holidays that fight for attention. I would feel bad for my colleagues with young children for whom the magic of the season NEEDED to happen despite all the requirements of the parents’ jobs. For them, saying NO wasn’t an easy (realistic) option.  But for me now, this year, this season, saying NO is at the top of my list. I have no boss driving an agenda and I h