By IG Staff, Introduction by Addison Chrivia, Editor
The end of the holiday season is upon us; we’re taking down Christmas lights and getting rid of Christmas trees, which have begun to decay by now, leaving pine needles strewn on the living room floor. Packing up the decorations is bittersweet, but the New Year is upon us, and with it, new potential. So, as we begin classes and start this new semester, let’s take a moment to reminisce on the good times we had over the winter break.
Emma G. Harrison, Editor-in-Chief
I started off my winter break with a full family staycation in a cabin just outside of Gatlinburg. We baked cookies, solved a murder mystery game, watched movies, played card games, and even had a gingerbread house building competition (I got second, right behind my reigning champion grandmother). After our weekend getaway, my nuclear family and I celebrated Hanukkah (or Chanukkah) for the first time. We spent eight days resting and reminiscing on the past year and the years to come. This time with my family has become really important to me as a newly Messianic individual; however, just because we celebrated Hanukkah does not mean we skipped Christmas. We had a lovely, small Christmas that was quickly followed by quality time with close friends. I had movie nights, sweet lunches with high school friends, hangouts with new friends, and electric nights at the Cotton Eyed Joe with my best friend. My free time was spent watching The Crown and puzzling on my new puzzle table, or picking up new crafts. After such a relaxing yet lively winter break, I am ready to get back in the classroom, open my mind to new ideas and skills, and continue spending time with the people I love most. I’ll see you on campus!
Addison Chrivia, Editor
The break gave me the opportunity to work on some art projects in my free time! I bleached a Mosasaurus fossil onto a hoodie, and added a shelf into my antique radio so I could put my record player in it. I also got really into tea, and have started making my own chai at home! I spent a lot of time hanging out with friends, watching movies, and goofing off. While I had a lot of fun, I’m excited for the new semester and can’t wait for you guys to see what IG is gonna bring!
Heather Lee Schroeder, Faculty Mentor
I spent my winter holiday in the mess of a home renovation project: boxes, drywall dust, and chaos – oh my! Is it a break if you’re constantly searching for lost items? Turns out, yes, it’s still oddly relaxing to unplug and snuggle in with family and friends. My happiest holiday moment was when my husband and son gave me my very own European-style scythe for Christmas. I spent a lot of time reading The Scythe Book by David Tresemer, learning all about the history, the lore, and the ecological benefits of scything. Now, if you need me this semester, I’ll be down at the pond, reciting scything poetry and dancing with my blade like the Grim Reaper! Just kidding… I’ll be grading, but don’t hesitate to ask me about this ancient form of reaping when you see me.
Bean Gast, Editor
I spent most of my break in isolation with the intention of giving myself the space to process all that has happened within the last year. This consisted of reading books, making collages, journaling, writing poetry, and most importantly, sleeping. I found myself desperately in need of reconnecting with nature and grounding myself into the Earth, which led me to a camping trip. I picked the quickest route to the site and unknowingly found myself driving in the rain on the “Tail of the Dragon,” a torturous 11-mile stretch of switchbacks and near-death experiences. After facing the fear of driving off the cliff’s edge, I arrived at the beautiful Lake Santeetlah and spent the next day breathing in all the fresh air I could get. As the rain pattered on the tent, I lay back in my sleeping bag and watched as the fog devoured the mountain before me. Then I sat along the lake and observed how the tiny raindrops created a shimmering illusion on the water’s surface. It wasn’t long before I realized that I was surrounded by a community of all different rocks, each of them compiled of centuries of stories, and so pure in their beauty. I felt a deep sadness to leave behind the scenery that heals me, so I decided to take one of the rocks home with me. As I drove a different route home, the fog engulfed me, devouring my sense of urgency. In the mouth of the cloud, nothing was certain and I truly had no idea what came next. I had no choice but to embrace the fog and feel inspired to dedicate this semester to feeling content with the unknown.
Jackie Ayala, Editor
While most of my winter break was spent working and scrambling to help customers get their last-minute Christmas presents, without classes, I finally had free time for something I truly enjoy – reading! I finally managed to have the time to relax and read the books piling my already-filled bookshelf, including the most recent read, A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (a solid 8/10 book for me). As a slow reader due to my inability to sit still for long, I finally managed to finish the book little by little before the new year began. This break also allowed me to have time with my loved ones, including a date night to Downtown Knoxville, where I got to see the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra perform the score of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. As a former band kid and newly acclaimed Star Wars fan (thanks to my boyfriend, who forced me to watch the films), it was the perfect addition to winter break. The cherry on top of this long break was the need for a change – what more could I need other than some hair dye? Pun intended on that “cherry on top” statement! The final week before classes, I was a victim of having a Sally’s Beauty near me with too much TikTok screentime. Now, after my shower, pillows, work uniform, and towels are forever stained red … it’s safe to say I don’t regret it one bit. While I did enjoy this much-needed break, I am excited to start back up with my IG team for an awesome semester of stories!
David Lavrinovich, Special to the Journal
The start of my winter break took me all the way to Spain, which you can read about in my article this week. But the fun didn’t stop there, as I spent Christmas with family and a sprawling feast of many Russian cultural dishes. With some of my friends, I rang in the New Year at a sleepover while eating freshly baked brookies and staying up way too late. Ultimately, the most important part of my Winter Break was preparing for the transition from Pellissippi State Community College to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Even though I was extremely busy, I managed to catch up on a lot of books and movies, now that I didn’t have any homework!
Draven Copeland, Managing Editor
It’s funny how quickly time flies when you’re on a break from classes. One minute, you have weeks of free time you’re wondering how to fill, and the next, you’re wishing there was more time before you’re locked back into homework and grade-tracking. My winter break was filled with moments spent with friends, family, and my coworkers here at Imaginary Gardens, who have quickly become some of the closest people in my life. From house parties to bubble tea lunches to Christmas celebrations, with many trips to the movie theater in between, I prioritized time with others this year more than ever and am thankful I did. Most years I’ve preferred to stay indoors, find a new video game or TV show to really dive into, and spend more time to myself – not that that move is necessarily a bad one – but I’m glad this year was different, especially in a time that feels so dark and unrelenting. In all of the free time I still had, I’ve worked on a new fictional novella that I’m excited to be sharing with you all over the coming weeks, and grown even closer to reaching my goal of watching 666 horror films (I’m actually at 665 at the time of writing). I’m so incredibly thankful for all of my friends and family who have made this break so great, and I’m so excited to get back to work on the journal!
Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer
This has been one of my most eventful winter breaks ever. I got together with friends and family and made cherished memories with them, from trying out Top Golf for the first time to watching four movies in one sitting far into the night. One of the most exciting memories from this break was a For King & Country concert I went to in Nashville; I got to listen to one of my favorite bands perform their Christmas and top hits at the Grand Ole Opry. I even got to explore the beautiful country city of Nashville afterwards with some friends. Moreover, my family got a little bigger over break. I am proud to welcome Milo, our new Bernedoodle puppy. He is full of energy and loves giving everyone kisses. I spent the remainder of my break caring for him and playing with him. Although trying to blow-dry his fur after baths and getting him to sleep at night was a struggle, I am thankful for our little boy. Ever since meeting him, my heart has grown a little more. I can definitely say this winter break was one of the best ones in my life.
