Because I fly away for the bulk of the holiday season, I have never spent Christmas in Fairbanks. When the chill is especially nasty, I equate it with the land of Narnia from the book, “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,” where the cute forest critters complain that the witch has outlawed winter-time festivities. “It’s always winter and never Christmas,” they say sadly.

It feels especially oppressive for students this time of year because finals are such a heavy burden to carry when trying to celebrate (I’ll only have one more mug of eggnog, and then I have to study for Calc).

The tests and projects can be a real buzz kill, but the intense stress is balanced by great relief and lightheartedness of getting those horrid projects over with. I don’t envy the instructors whose misery is prolonged grading thick stacks of exams before break.

Hang in there. In a little over a week, it will all be over and we can all don flashy holiday sweaters and shop for trinkets. Happy Holidays and Good luck with finals!