First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

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Surviving the Holidays and Getting a Prize

January 9, 2013 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

On my street, there are remnants of the holiday season in the form of discarded Christmas trees still awaiting refuse pickup. But for the most part, it’s a wrap. (Yay!) So, I thought this would be a good time to announce the winner of our “Surviving the Holidays When You’re Single” contest. Thanks to all who took the time to share their stories. Congratulations to Julia who will receive a copy of The Round House by Louise Erdrich for her 2 entries, which showed grit and grace:

One Christmas I rented out a (cheap) cabin in the woods nearby and read Dante’s Inferno by the fire. At night, the stars were so numerous that it looked like the trees were decorated with them. A getaway from Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive or exotic.

One thing that never fails to kick my butt out of the Christmas blues is to do something nice for someone less fortunate. Sending a check to a local food bank reminds me that I have plenty to eat or volunteering for a shelter for abused women reminds me that being alone isn’t always bad. It puts things in perspective.

Painting by the visionary artist Will Barnet who died in November at the age of 101.

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