January Duldrums or updrums - WHICH?

(These pics are of Howard standing at the entrance to Fish Lake National Forest which is 10 minutes east of our home in Delta). Click once on the pic to enlarge.

Hello February! January came and went without even a thought of posting on my blog. Why? On January 1 I was completely exhausted from all of the happy and fun activity in December. When my grown up children left after Christmas and went back to their three different cities of residence (Seattle, Pensacola and Ogden), I cried out loud briefly, then Dean hugged me and I stopped crying and then I thought, "Here we go into long,dreary January!

I have been fearful of living through my first January since I arrived here on August 7 of last year. I've not experienced January in Utah for 22 years but I do have a mark on my brain that says, "Katie, on January 1 you will be depressed and it won't let up until your birthday on March 5th. Having lived and grown up here for 30 years I am well aware that January brings a semi-serious depression for me. How do I know? because I experienced it from age 10.

This disorder defintely comes from lack of sunlight in the winter months. I have light induced mood disorder and since January tends to be dark in Utah I was sure it would set in this year. Even in Florida if there was more than 2 rainy days in a row, I would get a headache and then the small signs of my mood disorder would manifest themselves. I was always rescued however on the third day when the sun would always return. There ought to be a provision in Obama's budget plan to send all depressed people to Florida in January. I mean, as long as he's handing out money why not consider the depressed people of the world in January.

Here's the thing! See, Florida Januaries were always filled with spring cleaning organizing, making my first trips to the beach for the year. Generally greeting the day with a song was normal for me because the sun shines on December 26 and on into January and through the entire first quarter months of each new year in Florida. Even going to Target on Bayou Boulevard in January was a joyous experience because their nursery would be swelling with new plants and flowers for me to start to plan my planting which would take place in February. Okay, now I'm definitely getting homesick.

So I have had two realizations this January in Utah. Realization no. 1: I find myself living in Central Utah and surprise of all surprises, the sun shines A Lot in Delta Utah. Most of the snow each year either comes in above or below those of us living in the very center of the state. We somehow get by-passed by most major storms in the year. . . which by the way is not good for crop season. In Delta we have eternal sunshine as well . . . JUST LIKE FLORIDA! Yay!. I'm so relieved. I had no signs of depression this year. It was just the best realization for me to know that I have moved to "Little Florida!" Realization number 2: If you have to leave Florida for Utah, Delta is a good spot to land.

So here is how my January went. I was happy! I had a terrible cold in the nose and ears and throat for two weeks; and I spent two weeks in Roy, Utah (three hours north of here and very cloudy and snowy)tending my lovely little Lilly and Savannah while their parents were at work; I didn't get depressed however because holding a tiny baby all day tends to make you happy! I took long drives on the weekends with my sweetheart Dean. I also received my first new "calling" in the church I attend (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints - Sunday Relief Society Teacher on the 2nd week of each month.) I went visiting teaching which was so much fun - - which amounted to going to homes of ladies I had not met to take them a message of friendship and love and spiritual awareness. There names are Vicky, Helen, Deb, Deanna and Sue. That was so much fun. Visiting Teaching is what you do if you are a woman in the Relief Society Organization in our church. The ladies are between 40 and 83. Even though I am supposed to be teaching them, they taught me alot in our first visits together.

Dean and I also began in earnest a search for a new bed this last weekend.

We are debating on the Tempurpedic "The Cloud" and also looking at the "Sleep Number bed" that is all over the TV. Let me just say that "The Cloud" is the closest thing to laying down in heaven on earth that I can imagine. It's brand new and when I laid my tired self on that bed I fell asleep in less than three minutes. I'm not kidding! I did not get up even get up though I heard other people standing near by talking about it and probably wanting to lay down on it. My bone-spurred shoulders just said, "ahhhhhh." My shoulders, hips, back, knees and ankles were pain-free. The other bed we are looking at is the Sleep Number bed and we are sure we need a King Size. The cost of either bed? . . . too much to talk about but in my mind worth it since we will spend half our life on this bed and either will last at least 20 years. We must do something soon because after laying/sleeping on "The Cloud" I am sure my life will be extended by at least 3 years by making this purchase at this time in our lives.

So that is my January. Now we're into February and I have already put my "love" wreath on the front door and my Christmas Red Rockers out on the front porch are still appropriate. Women stop me and say, "Can I just say, I love your red rockers? You are so creative." I need to really tell them that I come from a place where lots of people have rockers of varying colors on their front porches but I'll settle now for letting them think that I AMMMM Creative. Oh yes! That feels good!

Here we are in February and for the next 2 weeks I'll be in Roy again with babies. It is exhausting but it is happy exhaustion so I look forward to it. I miss my Claydee boy in Florida and My Rachie and Ashlynn and Howard (who has deployed to Haiti for 2 months) in Washington. I must go see them all very soon. I'm so lucky, so happy, so loved and generally well-adjusted - - after all!