Spirit of the Season Means News Can Wait

My desk is covered with clipped newspaper articles andpost-it notes scribbled with thoughts and ideas for this blog. As a devotee ofcurrent events, these first days of December have proven to be an unusuallyrich period for news and events that would normally send me dashing to mylaptop. President Obama accepts the Nobel Peace Prize just days afterescalating the war in Afghanistan.Ugandaconsiders the death penalty for gay people. Michele Bachmann adds her voice toothers supporting an amendment to Minnesota'sconstitution that would put a cap on future state spending. Sarah Palin bringsher "Going Rogue" book tour to the Mall of America. Any one of these items wouldnormally capture my imagination, or indignation, for at least 500 words, butnot lately. Lately, I read daily papers, but I don't react toprovocative stories the way I usually do. I find myself listening to musicrather than news programming while driving to and from work. Perhaps, Ithought, I was coming down with a cold or the flu. Or maybe I was sufferingfrom seasonal affective disorder or just a general low-grade malaise. But Ididn't feel sick or lethargic. It was just that my sense of outrage seemed tobe frozen by the cold or buried under the recent snow. Then, while station surfing in my car, I landed on one ofthose radio stations that seems to play Christmas carols from Labor Day to President'sDay. Josh Groban's was singing the first lyrics of "O, Holy Night." Uncharacteristicallyof me, since I generally avoid holiday music and usually can't stomach Mr.Groban's unmistakable voice, I stopped skipping through the stations andlistened to the entire song. It was as if a light bulb had gone off, or moreappropriately given the time of year, a menorah or advent candle had been lit. Itsuddenly became apparent to me that it was the season that had captured myspirit, not some sickness that had infected my body. With the dimming of each day, as we move closer to thewinter solstice, I find myself slowing down and becoming more reflective. Ispend as much time reading Christmas cards and letters as I do articles aboutthe health care debate. I go to holiday parties and talk to friends about theirlives, not about politics. I'm sleeping more and eating more and not worryingabout the additional shuteye and calories. I'm lighting candles and building firesin the fireplace. I'm going to the Hollidazzle Parade in downtown Minneapolis– not once, but twice. Soon enough, something will jar me out of this seasonalcalm, but until that happens, the headlines and sound bites can wait. There iseggnog to drink, lefse to eat, friends and family to see, and holiday lights toenjoy. And, I need to get to the Electric Fetus to buy Josh Groban's ChristmasCD before it's sold out.