Salt and Signal Studios

Recently I learned that the name January originates from the Roman God Janus. The Roman deity of beginnings, transitions, doorways, and passages. Often represented with two faces in sculpture work showing he both looks forward and back. Seeing the year of the past and the year ahead clearly all at once.

This picture was striking to me through the holiday weeks of this season. Having a split view of the past and present simultaneously was well beyond the comprehension of my little brain. I also was reminded of the human reality that a divided mind is a mind at odds with itself.

In the Netflix documentary Breakdown: 1975 one of the interviewees makes a statement to the summary of “The greatest drug in North America is nostalgia…” I was struck by the logic of this played at out as the documentary came to a close. If not for having faith grounded in the Christmas season, I would have had Coca-Cola Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse visions in my childhood head.
Days before Christmas 2025, the Scrooge-like cynic in me momentarily thought that maybe hope was lost, and maybe this Holiday Season really had been bought and sold for red, gold, and green scraps.

I found myself guilty of seeking a healthy dose of the Nostalgia drug myself as November came with a sudden and stark reminder of my father’s mortality. On a Sunday afternoon roles were exchanged in an unspoken trust deal that no book nor road map of life had prepared our family for.

As we celebrated a quiet and peaceful Christmas together with Dad at the center; a warm fire crackling in the hearth all day, we each took pause and rest in the stillness of this historic year.

My Mother noted how roles had reversed or been handed off for a time as my father recovers in the months to come. She was laughing, because I had stayed up late Christmas Eve wrapping gifts, and gotten up to adding a little holiday magic as well.

I trod quietly from my garage studio in the backyard, unlocked the mudroom door to their home. Tiptoeing down the hall, arms full with boxes piled high. The darkened space was hushed, as I placed stockings with care. And bags of sugar free candies in their chairs. I turned the Christmas Tree back on, After leaving a few extra presents beneath it. Stopped to admire the LED glow, and the energy efficiency they were bequeathed with. Haha… That’s enough verse and rhyme.

All that to say, it was a nice quiet day and it is amazing how caregiving for an adult parent can put all priorities completely in plain view. As we finished Christmas, I knew we had made memories this year and I have never wanted for less. It is weird to say that and realize how many years I came into Christmas focused on the thing, or the money, or the next year and just getting on with the holidays.

Christmas morning, as my parents and I had our cups of coffee, I read Luke Chapter 2 for us. It was clear that our focus and priorities had suddenly been made plain.
I was struck with the thought that, We each have much to consider and marvel at like Mary did.
I’m sure Mary was not stoked about being far from home, with plans falling apart, and life’s troubles coming all at once.

Yet Joy, Peace, And Hope still came.
He could not be stopped.

Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol concludes with Scrooge facing the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come and being declared dead as a doornail himself. He is almost buried by his cynicism, fear, and biases built on hard life experiences. Then, in the morning light, Ebenezer awakes from his dream keenly aware he was given a chance to live life a new way. Christmas Day was bright, shining, and unwritten. He chose Joy, Peace, and Hope after his dark night.

As 2026 has just begun, and if you’re anything like me New Year’s Eve was spent with Stranger Things and bed by 11:00pm, then you can relate to this year starting somewhat unceremoniously.
There was no big party, or fireworks, and it felt pretty amazing to kick the year off with a full night’s rest.
I celebrated with friends over the phone these last few days, and walks in the woods in the afternoons.
I have many goals, visions, and plans for the future but the next few months have been determined.

I think that is my first thing then… Embracing living life as it comes rather than hoping it were something just a little different.

I hope this New Year meets you with opportunity, friendship, and all the things you need.
Happy New Year!
-CT