Christmas and the end of year have always posed interesting challenges.  The “forced march” through the holidays – self-applied pressure to not forget anything, anyone, any previous practice…..It can be draining.  Often the most relaxing times are after the main event, when there are still displays like the lights at San Antonio Riverwalk to be enjoyed – at a

leisurely pace with no other mandatory activities. It was nice that the weather was cold enough for scarves and jackets and that the walkways were crowded with people making merry.  Beautiful landscaping — surely more and better than on previous years made it even more interesting the gardener in me.  As did the earlier-in-the-afternoon visit to the San Antonio Zoo, another all-time favorite.