A la rentree!

January and February are the hardest months of the year.

The holidays are over and the fuzzy glow of wonder over snow for Christmas has surrendered quickly to the inescapable irritation at having to: shovel snow and more snow, salt sidewalks, slide, slip, spend 30 minutes preparing to go outside, spend days in grey gloom and listen to radio, broadcast and cable news reports of impending dire weather. And aren't those piles of dirty snow, covered with ice, salt and road rubble lovely?

We need some post-holiday holidays.

Not Valentine's Day and not St. Patrick's Day. We need holidays that celebrate some time away from daily cares, that mark enjoying ourselves and our families, that recognize that everyone just needs a break when our world is so grim. No organized events, no sports, no airport lines or traffic jams, no artificial romance or gaiety. Just time to sit back and go skating or spend a day or two with a good book and some tea or meet friends for wine and cheese. And not have to feel you are squeezing pleasure and chores into the weekend.

The French have a mid-summer greeting for each other, "A la rentree," which roughly translated, means see you after August, when most French take vacation. "La rentree" is the return to the quotidian routine of work, school and family life.

I love the idea of an August-long break, but I love the idea of a mid-winter breather even better. I don't know what we would call it, but here's to the American "rentree."

The sooner the better. (Corporations and individuals: Feel free to implement. No need to thank me.)