Well hello again, readers. I hope this month’s blog post finds you merry and bright. ‘Tis the season and all.

The astute follower will note not only the lateness of this December post but the complete absence of November’s Monthly Musings. And why no offering for November? No update? Was I booked with wild holiday parties, embattled-albeit-loving families? Did I succumb to a turkey coma?

Nah. None of those things. In fact, despite all I’m thankful for, I just couldn’t muster the requisite oomph to work. Yikes, huh? A writer who can’t bring herself to sit down for two stinking hours and tap out a whimsical or even heartwarming missive during the holidays? Shudder the thought!

I can’t speak for all writers, of course. I don’t know if the annual turning of the Earth affects anyone like it does me. However, I’ll let you in on a little secret: seasonal affective disorder is a thing. A real thing. And I’ve got it in spades. As an ardent fan of the sun, I find my energy and mood are zapped in the absence of light. Blah blah blah, poor me. I get it. Business is business. The show must go on. But the reality is, “I” couldn’t go on – performatively speaking. (And no, sun lamps don’t fool my psyche one bit.)

In fact, we can all thank my manager for the dearest nudge in returning me to my keyboard. As a textbook people pleaser, I was ashamed of myself for the obvious neglect of my website. That shame did battle with my lack of literary passion and, based on this mid-December semi-catch-up, shame trumped laziness. Even my personal life and book work have been impacted, if you want to know the truth. Here’s some inside baseball. My house has seen cleaner days, folks. My laundry’s been better kept up on. My writing’s been better managed. Despite last year’s rare and fleeting burst of holiday spirit, I’ve sent out no Christmas cards this year. Carols haven’t blasted from my speakers. I’ve set out zero decorations, inside or out.

My lone contribution to anything resembling “festivities” is that I’ve binge-watched eight seasons of the Holiday Baking Championship on MAX and spent three days baking five types of cookies even though it’s just my husband and I here at the house. A neighbor and my husband’s work benefitted from the effort – but that effort was soon quashed by storm clouds that weakened what few precious hours of daylight I could savor. Thankfully, no snow here yet.

Those of you who are like me in the late fall and winter months get it. In any case, here I am … struggling as I may be.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of missing a Monthly Musing is that, after October’s unsubtle blanket threat to those resisting my attempts at scheduling interviews related to my true crime book, I did have a breakthrough I could have reported on a month ago. My husband and I finally met with one of the folks I’d been trying to nail down. We had a lovely dinner with him and his wife, who I instantly liked. There was much discussion about my project and the need to do a proper interview. Some shocking revelations came out, things not generally known to those who have previously reported on the crime. Names and certain organizations to follow up on, for example. And while it can’t be considered, technically, an “interview” because it took place in public and a more casual setting, it was a start.

The good news is that this coming Saturday is Winter Solstice. That may mean different things to different people. To me, it means the shortest day of the year has finally arrived and will quickly pass, and Sunday will usher in the beginning of longer days for the next six months. It won’t seem like it at first, but my internal sense of it will mark an increasing energy level. Come March, I should feel whole again.

My promise to you is that next month’s Musings will not be late. In fact, in that post you’ll see much of what I have planned for 2025. And while I’m not superstitious, I have found over the decades that I do better in odd-numbered years. If this trend continuous, watch out! I have plans that (if accomplished) will set up a great second quarter 2026.

More on that next month.

For now, I just want to thank any of you following these silly semi-rants and ramblings. With all sincerity, I pray for everyone’s holiday season. May you be warm, safe, happy, and aware of all the blessings so many (like me) take for granted.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go do some laundry. Maybe have a cookie.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!