This is the one slow week of the year at the library. We’ll be closed today, Tuesday and Wednesday; we’ll reopen at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 27, and be open regular hours through Sunday, Dec. 30, then closed again Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
What’s happening now is Christmas Eve, a magical day and night, and, for myself one of the merriest and most wondrous, always.
All of us at the library wish Clark County a merry Christmas and happy holidays. happy Solstice, from me, specifically, too; it’s been a mild winter, so far, but I like the thought that we’re into the first turn toward spring. We thank all of you for your support, your attendance at our programs, and your friendship and kindness. Visitors from other states and counties always remark that this is a friendly library, and it’s our community that makes it happen.
Add a star to your crown and shine knowing you’ve helped make this one of the best libraries in the state.
Since we’re not having any library programs this week, I’m going to present one right here, and let’s see, the circulation of the Sun is about 7,000 — now, that’s a jackpot program stat!
This program is called Breeze through the Last Minute Holiday Rush, because you do want to breeze. You don’t want to get all frazzled and miss or spoil the fun.
Forgot a present? Make one. You say you don’t have the time or materials? You’ve got as much time as you’d spend driving to and fighting through crowds. Materials? You’ll be surprised and amazed what you can come up with exploring drawers, closets and the basement.
I’m not suggesting you try to copy the dazzling gew-gaws professional decorators mill in industrial studios. With a little bit of your own imagination and weird stuff you find lying around, I’ll bet you can come up with something charming or alarming (both traditional categories of Yuletide gifts) that will remain memorable much longer than the iPhone 4.
Years ago a friend of mine would often give vegetables, a carrot and a potato, wrapped in a bow, with instructions to cook and make a wish. Regard the vegetable’s shape for gift potential, too. The same guy once gave a stock car racing fan a potato shaped like Dale Earnhardt’s Monte Carlo. Don’t fret, be creative.
Or, write a card, just a simple card, and mention something personal, memorable or fun that happened between you and the recipient. Nothing creates a spell like words. By definition, spells are words. It is, I think, obvious since things simply can’t talk that words are more wondrous than things.
And finally, are things not going as you planned? Good. The holidays are all about the fun of surprises. Just go merrily, merrily on your way. Congeniality is much brighter than perfectly matched candles and napkins and sweeter than any spice cake glaze.
Have fun. There will be sleigh bells and angels choiring in the air tonight. As an 18th century English gallery choir carol puts it: “Sweetly join the cheerful band of angels in the sky.”
As Santa says: relax and dig it.
