The major holiday of the winter season is now past. We can now relax in that period of the year where the pressure is off a little bit in some critical areas. For example, we don’t have to stew now about what to give people for Christmas.

All we have to do now is figure out how to pay for what we bought. And, of course, we have to strategically figure out how to re-gift presents we received without offending the parties who gave them to us.

We just finished with ringing in the new year. That holiday isn’t a pressure packed event. There’s no gift giving to speak of – so that’s a big plus (like the Swiss flag) (extra points if you “got” that reference). There are those pesky new year’s resolutions. But those can be shrugged off.

Valentine’s Day is about a month away and we should remember our sweethearts with at least a card or a flower or a dinner date. But that’s quite easily taken care of.

Some people call Valentine’s Day “Singles Awareness Day.” I saw something on Facebook a few years ago that was posted by someone who had already made plans for Valentine’s Day: “Stay in my room and don’t make any noise and pretend I don’t exist.”

I don’t think it has to be quite that bleak. Regardless of who you are, there’s someone for whom you can show a little love and attention.

Right now, it’s time to enjoy the season of the year when Mother Nature is still sleeping and not pressing us to work for her. We can sit and look out the window at our snow covered garden spots. Nature rests, we rest.

So what else is there to do in Sanpete during the dead of winter? I know some people start to get a little stir crazy this time of year. They have “cabin fever.” They’re tired of short days and long nights.

I sympathize with these people. I find myself looking at Hawaiian shirts in my closet and wanting to wear them. I guess there’s no law that says I can’t wear them. It’s just the “you’re a weirdo” stares that I try to avoid. (I get plenty of those under the best of circumstances)

The kids of Sanpete don’t seem to mind the winter weather as much as we older folks. They seem to be able to play and stay outside without many complaints. Kids are always looking for opportunities to get up Fairview Canyon for snowboarding. It doesn’t matter if there’s a blinding blizzard or if it’s “frostbite city.”

As for me, while appreciating the great out of doors, I limit my time out there during these cold days. I’m more often found indoors this time of year. I do bundle up and take a night walk with the dog quite often. I figure if dozens of deer are out walking around my neighborhood, I can do it too.

Getting out of the house and reducing “cabin fever” is accomplished by doing several things here in Sanpete. Going out to local school sporting events, school plays, and other community events is a great way to beat the winter doldrums. It’s fun to mix with friends and neighbors in gymnasiums and auditoriums where it’s warm.

Snow College has plenty of sports, performances, and other events going on that break up dark, boring winter evenings. Check their calendar on the internet, watch the newspaper, or call the college to get information on what’s happening.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical version of “Cinderella” is the next major theater production at the college. Its two week run starts the week after Valentine’s Day. Snow College has a long and great tradition of producing high quality stage shows. I’ve been attending there for more than 40 years. (Gift idea for guys: You’ll make points, if you give tickets to this play and attend the show with your sweetheart as a Valentine’s Day present.)

Going to the movies is also a great way to get out of the house in the wintertime. We’re lucky to have several screens in the county.

I haven’t been there yet, but I’m glad that the old Towne Theatre in Ephraim has re-opened. It’s been playing that “Avatar: The Way of Water” movie in 3-D there since it opened up again. We recently saw the movie “Devotion” at the SouthTowne Theatres and really liked it.

There are some shows that really should be seen on the big screen with big sound. There’s a certain magic seeing movies that way.

It’s just not the same seeing those shows on a television at home. At home, you can almost count on something to happen right at the climactic moment of the movie: the phone will ring (someone wanting a donation or doing a survey), or someone will ring your doorbell (usually someone from the church) or the dog will whine to go out (and then will just go out and eat snow rather than perform a needful function).

It is true that there are movies that can wait until they come out on video. It doesn’t matter if the dog interrupts the show by throwing up on the carpet during “Puss in Boots.”

A lot of people just plain default to television with their spare time during this season of the year. I can’t argue with the fact that’s it’s a warm activity – if you want to call TV watching an “activity.” I suspect I watch my fair share of television.

I sometimes base whether I watch something on TV by how long the show runs. I have certain people in my life who chide me because I have never seen “Lord of the Rings.” I haven’t seen it because I haven’t wanted to invest/risk three hours of my life to it. (This reasoning doesn’t make much sense when you consider that football games routinely go well over three hours.)

Of course, I should mention the obvious thing to do in winter when there’s snow on the ground. Go play in it! Many Sanpeters own snowmobiles and are on their “sleds” every chance they get. The rest of us can sleighride down the nearby hills, build snowmen and snow forts, and lay down and make snow angels.

However you do it, enjoy this time of the year in Sanpete. And if you must, and I know some of you “must” – make the run to St. George or Mesquite to play a round of golf or walk around outdoors without having to wear a parka. Rejuvenate, then come back home and tell us about it. — Merrill

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