January brings the New Year, but it also brings much that is not new: recurrences, times when we seem to revisit what has happened so many times before. We have a “January thaw” (or, this year, perhaps, a January frost?). The faithful old car keeps on starting on subzero mornings with that familiar crank-crank-crank. My left snowshoe binding, predictably, comes loose after about a mile’s walk. Even our “new year resolutions” are often not new, but pick up ideas that have inhabited our minds and lives in past years. For our story theme this month, let’s look at some of the elements in our lives (or in traditional stories) that come again – not necessarily at the New Year – at any period. What does it mean to us when the expected happens (or does not happen)? Are some deviations from the norm welcome, and others unwelcome? I invite stories about our expectations, our patterns. See what pops up! All are welcome, to tell and/or to listen! We will gather on Zoom on Wednesday, January 17, from 1:00-2:30 EST. For more information or to receive the Zoom link, contact Jo Radner (jradner@american.edu).