I had intended to write about the Silent Sam decision, after first going to the holiday reception Sunday afternoon at the home of UNC Chancellor 
Carol Folt and collecting opinions of some of the top brass at the university who have attended in the past.
But then it snowed, and the party was postponed until Monday evening, then canceled altogether, with the possibility of it being rescheduled for January. And having a true day off, with everything on my calendar wiped clean, drained the bile from my muse.
My home was one of the lucky ones that didn’t lose power, so I was warm. I could make coffee and cook meals, and I had access to my computer and telephone to stay connected to the rest of the world and other entertainment. I watched some of my more intrepid neighbors head out for walks. Cabin fever set in early for others, and I read posts on the listserv about borrowing snow shovels. When I saw one neighbor slip and slide his car up the street and return later with a Harris Teeter bag, I wished I’d asked him to pick up the makings of hot chocolate for me.
Having a day off was restorative. It underscored the wisdom of the Jewish and Christian faiths designating the Sabbath as a day of rest. By the end of the day, I felt I had a different perspective on the feasibility of compassion and common sense chipping away at the vindictive and power-grabbing tactics of so many of our leaders today. Not to mention renewed energy to keep fighting the good fight.
This being the South, the snow will melt off in a matter of days, and the hustle of life will soon return. The Silent Sam debate will resume raging on. The moral weaknesses of some of our leaders will show up in unexpected ways and need strong voices and actions to counteract. Much will be required of us if we don’t want to lose ground.
But I hope,especially in this holiday season, that all of us will create opportunities to find pockets of peace and relax into the luxury of some real time off.
— Nancy Oates
