It’s 10 p.m. on Monday night, and we won’t talk about how long I stared at a blank Google document before my fingers started moving across the keyboard to form this sentence — the screen’s white glare blinding as I searched the file cabinet of my brain for words, any words would do. Because we go to press tomorrow and we’ve got to put out two papers this week in our push to prepare for a week off for the holidays. Our team is very lucky to have some uninterrupted time off at the end of the year, but we have to hustle to make that happen — and, in our “absence,” you all still need to be able to find your copy of the Flyer out on newsstands as expected. Thanks to the diligent work of our entire staff, you shall. (And we won’t skip a beat on memphisflyer.com either; find us there with new and different content any time.)
A standard computer keyboard typically has 104 keys, and infinite combinations of words that could come from them. I’ve managed to get to about the 175-word mark now. I don’t have any use for the ~ or ^, and hardly ever need the | or } keys at all — never really thought about that. Yes, I might be stalling. But maybe you can understand. There seems to be a long-standing, silently agreed-upon notion that the time between Thanksgiving and the new year is a holiday haze. Sort of like the last week of school for kids, with sweet dreams of summer knocking at the door, but for adults. When you’ve already checked out a bit after a turkey-induced coma in anticipation of the holiday break and New Year’s celebrations. Twinkling lights and tinsel, gifts and fireworks, anyone? Okay, maybe not the tinsel — unless you want to still be finding strands of it next spring.
Even with visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads, we’ve got to push on through. It’s a little odd, though, working in print media, especially now — we’re already into January in our minds and even February on some of our deadlines. (Hello, from the future. What’s today’s date again?) Several of the bylines you see in this paper are from writers who also contribute to our sister publication Memphis Magazine, which is also in a production crunch at present. Many hats worn by my talented colleagues — and I extend my eternal gratitude to them. (And do check out their work on memphismagazine.com or subscribe to the monthly print edition.)
Hey, yeah! I’ve hit the 400-word mark — we’re getting somewhere! So as we wait for Santa to shimmy down the chimney, and I inch toward the end of this … whatever this is shaping up to be … we’re also inching toward 2024. Twenty twenty-four. Where has this year gone? Is it just me, or has time sped up? Wasn’t Halloween last week? Was there even a Valentine’s Day this year? Or February for that matter? Summer was a speck on my sunglasses lens. Regardless of how we’ve wound up here, we’re in the home stretch of 2023. The last mile.
This year was a whirlwind, one that held its ups and downs, as all do. I’ll mark mine with the highlights — making an alligator friend on my grandparents’ land in spring, tending to hens when I house-sat this summer. I might have learned more meaningful lessons from animals in 2023 than I did from people, but that’s fine by me. I’ll take growth however I can get it.
As much as my animal connections meant this year, I’ll also always remind you (and myself) that people aren’t so bad. There are plenty of good ones out there. In your own holiday haze, remember that not everyone is filled with joy this season. Not everyone gets a break. Show thanks to the retail workers, delivery drivers, and all those who play a part in keeping spirits bright.
There are nearly 630,000 people living in Memphis, and within them infinite combinations of personalities, strife, and emotions. Be kind to them, and to yourself. Happy Holidaze!
