It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and feel like it, with the tree up and fresh snow, and cards and gifts arriving daily in the mail. The Post Office crew reminds everyone to please pick up our packages. Yesterday my daughter and son-in-law came by on their way to cut a tree, they needed a saw, but after digging around in the garage they only came up with the firewood ax, which apparently worked. Doris at Bell’s Store helped me give Nancy a red pointsettia to thank her for all the work she does with our choir and the church music– Doris wrapped it all up so it wouldn’t die getting from her flower and seafood shop to my car when the thermometer at the bank flashed 0 degrees. The Venturer Scouts still have a few wreaths left, too. This morning I drove my neighbor to the school, where she works, because she’s flying out from there this afternoon to head for Christmas at a military base in Germany where her daughter and grandsons live. The school was so normal and busy and all lit up at eight, a whole family in big and little reflective vests walked in, and all was so peaceful and bright, that I was very grateful, you know? I also think it’s nice to live in a town where you only need to be at the airport about ten minutes before your flight, and you don’t have to go through security. On the other hand, the planes are about as big as my car, and the Juneau ferry was canceled today because of storm force winds and heavy freezing spray, which means the airport may be crowded with frustrated travelers who need to make connections in Juneau tonight and tomorrow. (Today is the last day of school.) I’m happy staying home. It’s almost the darkest day of the year, and it has gotten kind of quiet this week, especially compared to the flurry of parades, shows, concerts, and bazaars of the last few. There is a reception for the new representative, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins at 6 tonight at the Chilkat Center, and there’s still one more bazaar at the ANB Hall on Saturday morning. Tomorrow evening at 5:15 in the Chilkat Center lobby there’s a community let-your-light-shine solstice yoga session, we are all invited to stretch our body and souls a bit– sounds like just the thing after your solstice snowshoe, don’t you think?