Dec. 17. By Lindsay Martell. December is never, ever known for its slowness.

The glut of festivities surrounding Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa reach a fever pitch, and when you throw in Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Small Business Tuesday, it’s just…a lot. I remind myself to take more than a few breathers, and just lean the heck in.

I love the last month of the year for all of the right reasons – together-ness with the fam, baking all the things, prepping sweets for the cookie walk at my daughter’s school, watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation for the umpteenth time (which invariably leads to all of us piping up at least fifty “You serious, Clark?” quips for the next two weeks), and just savoring the coziness of it all.

Speaking of all things warm and inviting, I combined two of my favorites – books and quiet – at a Silent Book Club. These gatherings are perfect for introverts craving a bit of camaraderie and extroverts needing to dial it back a bit, or those who just wanna make some new bookish friends without slogging through a book club pick that just kind of sucks.

Thanks to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, I joined a lovely group of readers at Waterbean Coffee in Huntersville, introduced myself, and pulled out Debbie Gibson’s memoir, Eternally Electric (four stars). It was one of the least awkward things I’ve ever felt – I was remarkably comfortable reading with people I just met, at a small table, for one hour.

Once the alarm signaled the sixty minutes were up, we spent a few minutes sharing things we liked about our books, and headed out the door; our minds filled with that post-reading euphoria and happy to have some new friends.

I’d love to stay under the covers as the temps drop but December-ing requires long days and massive stamina. The thing that always leaves me scrambling is fitting in a family photo shoot. I’m obsessed with mini shoots offered by local photographers, and this year, we’ll head to Mrs. Ruth’s Christmas Trees in Mooresville. In a 15-minute session, all three of us will try to corral our squirrely dog, Dug, into actually looking at the camera and not bolting to the car.

It’s an all-hands on deck experience – and we’re beat once it’s over – but I treasure this time. Not only because it’s such a quintessential holiday thing to do, but I cherish how potentially messy and perfectly imperfect we are in these moments.

A few other December favorites tick all of my wintery boxes: cinnamon hot chocolate with extra marshmallows in my favorite mug, or splurging on a Ho Ho Mint Mocha from Caribou Coffee. It’s so sugary it makes my teeth ache, but it’s so worth it: white chocolate, espresso, and mint, topped with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.

Sweet.

However you indulge – with silent nights or raucous crowds, enjoy it all. Feeling fulfilled is always in season.

Martell

Milling About is a column about life around Lake Norman, written by Lindsay Martell. The name is a nod to life around the lake and our town’s mill history.

Lindsay Martell lives in Birkdale with her husband, daughter, and a scruffy mini mutt named Dug.