After our bizarre round of sunny, cold weather, we’ve returned to the December norm: gray. This week, we have had every sort of unpleasant precipitation, except snow. Freezing rain, rain, and sleet have left what’s left of the snow a soggy, sloppy, icy mess. Let’s just say that even the folks at Schweitzer aren’t trying to put a good spin on the ski conditions at the moment. (One ski report this week actually suggested that you stay home and bake cookies.)
Even with all this gray yuck, we can all take comfort in one fact: as of last Wednesday, the days are now getting longer. The winter solstice has come and gone, so there will be more light in our lives.
Lately there’s been way, way too much ink devoted to whether or not we should be saying Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or something else. Frankly, I think the whole argument is completely stupid. Wishing someone any type of good will at this or any other time of year is never a bad thing. In general, people often aren’t nice to each other, so when people actually convey good cheer, we should be pleased. Political correctness aside, as my mother used to say, "it’s the thought that counts."
Personally, I don’t care what people’s religious beliefs are as long as they don’t foist them on me. They can worship a multi-colored mushroom in the forest for all I care. As long as they don’t force me to do it along with them, I’m okay with it. If you want to say, "Merry Multi-colored Mushroom!" I’ll take it in the sprit it was intended.
Here in Sandpoint, if you’ve been fretting about the whole Happy Holidays debate, rest assured that when it’s getting dark at 3:30 here in the deep north, you can be pretty sure that when you mention the solstice, you’re on safe territory and you’ll get an enthusiastic response.