Do you ever have the sense that each holiday season seems to have a certain universal trend or vibe or energy to it? I suppose the holidays, in one sense, are really an end cap/recap of the year gone by. To me, every year, the holidays seem to kind of summarize the year, in a very general sense.
This year’s holiday feels a tad more subtle to me than the last couple of years, so far. The parties which we have attended have been nice and warm, but nothing too outlandish. People seem to be “calling it a night” a little bit earlier than usual. The Christmas cards that we have received so far, seem a bit simpler, too. They seem to be less newsy and to contain less pictures. The outdoor decorations didn’t go out as early this year, as they had been put out in previous years, on many homes in our neighborhood. I’m not sure if it is just my own projections, but the holidays just feel a little more toned-down, a tad more introspective, in a broader sense, this year. It’s not a “sad/worried” energy that I am sensing, but more of a quiet, inquisitive, slowed down atmosphere. Is that what you all are sensing?
I notice and analyze quirks all of the time. I suppose that is part of being an observer/writer type person. Last year, about 90 percent of the Christmas cards that we received, had pictures of our friends’ pets on them. Pictures of pets on holiday cards are not unusual, but last year it seemed to be the complete norm. Last year, I was surprised when I opened a card that didn’t include a picture of a pet. I said to my husband, that indicates to me, that people were needing to feel warmth, and comfort, and unconditional love more than ever, last Christmas. Last year’s holiday season seemed to have more of outwardly frenzied neediness to it, than this year seems to have, to me. So far, anyway. This year’s holiday, thus far, seems to have more of a universal theme of acceptance, relaxation, and introspection. Tell me what you are sensing. I would be curious about everyone’s unique observations. And if you think that I am completely “off my rocker”, go ahead and tell me that, too. It’s often been suggested that I move to the beat of my own drum. (Don’t we all? Some of us are just better at hiding our drum beat under the cloak of conformity than others, I think.) My current calm presence can take any suggestions, right now, I am sensing, with a semblance of light bemusement. It’s just something in the air, this Christmas. Right?
I’m not really in a bad mood at all. It’s Friday, for goodness’ sake! I just thought that the meme was hilarious. The minions will always be a “favorite” of mine. Happy Friday!!! Happy Friday, the 13th!! (extra lucky) Happy Favorite Things Friday! New readers, Fridays are all about the material world. We keep it light and on the surface on Fridays. I typically list three favorite songs, downloads, gift items, gadgets, whatevers and I strongly encourage you to list your favorites, as well. Please check out previous Friday listings for more favorites. Favorites never go out of style. Here are today’s favorites:
Wsky Laptop Cooler – My laptop computer runs really hot. I need an oven mitt to move the laptop to a different location on my desk. This laptop cooling stand is quiet, only comes on when the computer is on, and is unobtrusive. I ordered it on Amazon and I truly believe that it is adding years to the life of my computer. I wish that they would make a person sized one, as it would be a wonderful way, to lay out in the sun. (shhh, I admit that I still do that, but I do wear sunscreen)
Derin Collection Coin Purses – I love small little bags to put all of my little minutia in. My friend once emptied out one of my colossal purses and counted 15 different bags, inside of the bag. (wallets, eyeglass cases, checkbook holders, makeup bags, you get the gist) No exaggeration. Hey, I own my idiosyncrasies. I love bags of every shape, size and color. I just found these Derin coin purses and I am in love. They look like tiny little Persian rugs for your purse. They are wonderful and the bottoms expand to hold all of our lucky pennies. Every purse needs a Persian carpet, right?!
Jillatay Etsy Store – I decided to add to my nativity scene collection this year. I typically like simple nativities that are only one piece (like Mary and baby Jesus) or a few simple pieces. (The larger sets are beautiful, but do not fare well in a chaotic household of six active people and two large dogs with long, wagging tails that tend to take these elaborate nativities out, in one full sweep) Anyway, I found some adorable nativity additions at this store and I fell in love with this ceramic artist’s complete whimsy and spiritually artistic viewpoint. (she makes art from many religious/spiritual/natural viewpoints) Check her site out. Eye candy! See an example below.
I don’t have much to say today. Just a little Thursday rant, I guess. I was doing laundry yesterday and as I was putting the dryer sheets in with the laundry, I noticed that the box emphasized that these dryer sheets have new “technology.” What?!? They are fabric softener infused dryer sheets. They are essentially sweet smelling, waxy, paper towels. That is not technology and that is okay. Simple is okay. If fact, sometimes “simple/no technology required” is refreshing. Does everything have to have “technology” these days? Should I download an app so that I can connect with my dryer sheets?!? Really?!?
That’s all. Sorry. I realize that I sound like the angry, stuck-in-her-ways old woman whom I swore I would never become. Happy Friday Eve, friends!!!
“Staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all of the time, it means that even on hard days you know that better ones are coming.” – FofF (Twitter)
I think one of the added tricky elements of the holiday season, is that you often feel the onus to feel cheerful, happy and blessed, from morning until night. And on the days that you aren’t in slap-happy mode, you feel the need to berate yourself, more than ever, for not being/feeling grateful, productive, and glistening-ly excited. You put yourself on your own naughty list for not being overjoyed, every second of the day.
I consider myself to be a mostly upbeat person. I have a sunny, friendly disposition most of the time. Because of this, I think that I feel an expectation from others, (and truthfully, mostly from myself), to be in a jubilant way, all of the time. However, as we all know, the demand, “Be Happy”, doesn’t work like a switch. You can’t just magically turn “Happy” on. “Happy” can be as inconsistent as our strands of Christmas lights, working beautifully one second, and then the next second, turned off, for no particular rhyme or reason.
These last few days, three of my kids have seemed particularly stressed, preparing for, and taking their final exams. My husband and I have been prodding them along with, “It’s almost over. Christmas break is right around the corner.” For some people, the holidays, themselves, stir up so much turmoil and fuss, that their mantra is, “It’s almost over. The new year is right around the corner.” That’s being positive. That’s being hopeful that there will be a happy release, just around the corner, from anything that is tying you up in knots right now. So, “happy” is just a fleeting emotion, and like all emotions, “happy” comes and “happy” goes. Being a positive person, however, is a state of being. It is the looking for the silver lining, the understanding that the clouds will always pass, and the faith in yourself and in your Highest guide, that whatever you experience in life, you will manage it, learn from it and grow, and you will survive it. And that whole process just described is called thriving. Thriving is what positive people do. “Happy” is the cheaply made, not so reliable strand of twinkling lights. “Positive” is the Star of Wonder, faithfully shining in the skies of our hearts, every single day. Even when we can’t see it, we know that the star is there, guiding us along our journeys in Life. And it will see us through to our destination. I’m positive of that fact. Absolutely positive.
Today is my youngest son’s birthday. He is still away at college. He doesn’t have any final exams today, but he does have two tomorrow, so he’ll spend his day studying. We laughed together this morning, when we talked about that fact. Adult birthdays aren’t quite as magical as when you are little kid. Real life still has to happen, with a cake break, if you are lucky.
It is strange not having him home for his birthday. I have been through this now, with both of his older brothers, but it still feels strange. Is there anything more intimate between a mother and her child, than her child’s birthday? On the day of a child’s birth, the child gets the blessing of life on Earth breathed into them, and also, at that very moment, the mother has already begun the gradual, painful, yet affirming process of releasing her child and letting go.
I asked my son, “How do you feel about it being the last year of your teens?”
He answered, “How do you feel about it?”
My real unsaid response was this – Oh, honey, you don’t want me to unleash the storm of feelings that I feel on every single one of your and your sibling’s birthdays. The torrent of pride and love and bewilderment and fear and memories and giggles and gratefulness and giddiness and pain and hope and guilt and amusement and joy and awe would probably be too much for both of us to handle . . . . but maybe not. Maybe that torrent of emotion is what we both felt, on the crescendo of that beautiful winter day, nineteen years ago. And I think that we have both turned out pretty good, so far. We weather well. I know that I love our relationship. I know that I love you from the deepest wells of my heart. The relationships that I have with you and your siblings and your father, is what my makes my life sing its very song. Thank you for the gift of my sacred song.
Instead I answered, “I feel great! I’m proud of you. I love you. Have a wonderful day!” And then we hung up, and I let go, just a little more.
“You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul You’ll be my breath should I grow old You are my lover, you’re my best friend You’re in my soul
My love for you is immeasurable My respect for you immense You’re ageless, timeless, lace and fineness You’re beauty and elegance
You’re a rhapsody, a comedy You’re a symphony and a play You’re every love song ever written But honey what do you see in me”
You were probably singing along to the above lyrics from the song “You’re In My Heart” by Rod Stewart, as you were reading them. (Admit it. I know you did. You are fun like that!) I have always thought that those lyrics were the best that I have ever heard in a love song, and what I really enjoy about the song, too, is that it is encased in such a fun, upbeat, easy-to-sing melody. It’s the kind of song that 25 people will belt out together, at a bar or a party, all looped together, in shoulder slung arms. I did some research and I found out that Rod had written that song, mostly for the Swedish model/actress, Britt Ekland. Having always been quite the “player” in romantic relationships (he has had three marriages, and eight children by five different mothers), Rod doomed their relationship to last only about two years, but the song will go on in popularity, for quite some time. The lyrics and the tune are timeless.
I think that Rod Stewart probably has a big heart . . . . a big heart in the sense that it is filled with a lust for life, rarely witnessed in other human beings. I just read that in the 26 years that Rod Stewart (now aged 74) made 13 musical albums, and went on tour 19 times, he was also creating a masterpiece. Rod Stewart just put the finishing touches on an epic model train railway city. This is how it is described: “a 124ft spread depicting an entire US city and inspired by the view from his childhood home.” (Twitter) So, while writing songs and rocking it out on stage, womanizing, being a dad and a husband, and a grandfather, and a knight, an avid car collector, and at one time, having given it a go at becoming a professional “footballer” (in America, we call them soccer players), Rod Stewart was working on his model train set. Apparently, though most of this awe-striking creation is kept in his Los Angeles’ home’s attic, he would bring parts of it on tour, keeping the part that he was working on, in its own separate hotel room, so that he could work on it, in between shows.
There must be a connection with musicians and train sets. One of my best friend’s boyfriend is an avid musician, who also faithfully attends his model train club meetings, at least once a week. Apparently, Roger Daltrey, Phil Collins, Neil Young, and Ronnie Wood, also share in the hobby.
Miniature train sets, are fascinating. When I was a kid, we made several trips to The Miniature Railroad and Village, owned by the Carnegie museums and now housed in the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida also houses a magical train display, depicting the circus in the 1920s. My favorite part of both of these attractions, is how they simulate night and day, so when it gets dark, all of the the warm and twinkling lights on the buildings and street lamps start to glow.
I kind of got wander-y and meandering in this post, much like a charming little model train, making its way through towns and countrysides, and bridges and tunnels. I’ll park my post back in the station, of the point that I was trying to make all along. Life is grand. Life is full of possibilities. Life is so interesting because we are so interesting in the ways that we are INTERESTED. We all find ourselves attracted to different fascinations. What if we all started this upcoming new year (and new decade, for that matter) with an agreement to go after our interests, our hobbies, our passions, and our curiosities, with gusto? With wild abandonment? With unbridled enthusiasm? Can you imagine how great that would feel? Can you imagine the wonders that would come from that excited frenzy? Take the shoulds/what other people would think/judgments on level of “cool” or “sophisticated”/our somewhat limited beliefs on time constraints/worries that we aren’t talented enough/comparisons to others, etc. etc. right out of the equation and in the forever truism made popular by Nike – JUST DO IT.
Friends, in embarking on a whole new span of time – a new year, a new decade, in our decidedly short lifetimes, let’s throw the excuses out of the window, and get back on the tracks and see where they take us. It’s bound to be amazing. And much like a miniature train, it doesn’t have to end. It can loop around and around, reminding us, again and again, of just how damn delightful it is to be ALIVE.
Our own little poetry workshop. Our safe space to toy with the words. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine. Today, mine came out to be a little more “prose style” . . . .
Chris
I just woke up and Chris is right here.
It’s just that there’s always Chris . . .
Chris is . . . . well, Chris is A LOT . . . .
When Chris comes, everything just seems to revolve around Chris.
“How does this relate to Chris? How does this honor Chris?”
Living your normal life when Chris is around, is almost impossible.
Chris always brings so much drama to everywhere and everyone. Chris is just one who brings out the best and yet also the worst, in everybody.
Chris seems to always bring that BIG load of baggage, every year. Every single year. And it seems, that every year, Chris just stays longer and longer and longer, always extending the stay. Chris is an expensive, messy, emotional, time consuming, exhausting house guest. Chris really should be named Great Expectations. Chris is the “Original GE.” OGE. That’s Chris, for ya.
Yet, everyone loves Chris! Everyone gets so excited for Chris to come every year! Everyone counts down, for the reliable arrival of Chris. And the truth is, I’m right there with them.
Chris is fun! Chris is colorful! Chris is generous! Always full of gifts and surprises! Chris has a way of making life feel just so much more rich and decadent and bright and hopeful! How can you not love Chris? Chris is just so amazing at connecting everyone and reminding everyone of their deepest bonds and fondest memories and greatest hopes and kindest selves. That’s just Chris’ way. And it is special to Chris. Truly, uniquely, special. Chris brings depth to life, in the ways that no one else can.
Maybe we are unfair to Chris. Maybe Chris just wants to be Chris. Chris doesn’t want to let anybody down. Chris just wants to be loved, just like the rest of us. Everybody loves Chris. Everybody hates Chris. But have we really taken time to figure out our own special relationship with Chris? Do we know what Chris means to us? Maybe Chris is different than our projections, or the many movies and books made about Chris, or even different than whatever anybody has told us about Chris or what theythink that we should think about Chris. Maybe this year, I’ll spend some private time, some quiet time, just being with Chris, just observing Chris, just letting Chris show me the hidden depths and meaning of our own personal relationship with each other.
Chris is here to stay for a while, like it or not.
I love Chris. I truly do. Sometimes, I hate Chris. In the end, though, I know that there are reasons why Chris is in my life.
I think that I’ll really explore those reasons, this year.
Why not? Oh, wow, here’s Chris now.
I just woke up and Chris is right here.
“Hi Chris, what have you got planned for us today?”
I have a migraine headache today. Migraines suck. For years, I had myself convinced that it was my sinuses, so on top of the unrelenting pounding on typically one side of my head (today it is the left side), I would force myself to inhale copious amounts of saltwater with the use of various ancient torture contraptions called neti-pots. I effectively water-boarded myself, on a regular basis, to add to the torment that my body was already going through and I never understood why it didn’t work. What can I say, other than admitting that I can be a very obtuse, stubborn, know-it-all? I own that fact. (all of my friends and my family are nodding their heads vigorously, and clucking their tongues right now) Anyway, I worked with a woman who told me that she gets migraines and she described them and it is only then, in my mid-forties, that I realized that I am prone to migraine headaches. If you think you have sinus issues and these issues are not getting resolved, look up migraines. It could be an a-ha moment for you, like it was for me. I have medication now, that is usually very effective in thwarting my migraines, but I waited too long to take it, and I have a hair appointment in an hour or so, that I can’t cancel, because my stylist is headed out of town. My hair is already looking “ombre-ish” (not on purpose) with unsightly greys melding into faded out blondish-brown, that could use a major dose of color and shine. I don’t do wigs, and we have the usual list of holiday get-togethers/command performances, so today’s experience will be reminiscent of my previous self-torture days of a pounding headache, with my head in the sink, for what will feel like a never-ending eternity. Boo-hoo. Boo-hoo.
Enough of the complaining . . . . yesterday, my friend texted our group chat that yesterday was the anniversary of the “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” Christmas special. The first one debuted in 1964. We got all excited thinking that we were the first kids to grow up, believing in Rudolph. We were the first kids to buy into the legend of a flying reindeer, with a glowing red nose. It turns out that the Rudolph song was written in the 1930s, so it was really our grandparents who were the first kids to have the red-nosed reindeer added to their Santa lore, but I don’t begrudge them for that, too much. They were the Greatest Generation and they deserve that distinction, and all the fun that Rudolph adds to the magic of Christmas. (I’m in Generation X. We don’t deserve anything – ha!) The Rudolph reminiscing got me to thinking about my children’s Santa experiences and that inevitable questioning that comes out, when their reasoning skills (and exposure to the outside world) start to become honed. My middle son is a scientist, at his core. He is the only person whom I have ever met who has used “Organic Chemistry” and “fun” in the same sentence. He likes things to be factual and black and white. He doesn’t like subtleties and nuances and philosophy and subjectivity. At all. So, when he started questioning the whole Santa scenario, he came to me, in a very serious tone. I think that he had been doubting the validity of the Santa chronicles for quite some time, but like every little kid that I know, he felt the need to hedge his bets. If, in fact, Santa was the real deal, and my son was a doubter, he couldn’t stomach the idea, of his siblings and friends, lavishing in their piles of shiny, new, exciting toys, while all he got was dirty, in his little pile of coal.
“Mom,” he said, looking me directly in the eye. “Look, to be clear, I still believe in Santa, okay, but, Mom, flying reindeer?!? I mean, come on?! I don’t believe in flying reindeer.”
Now I’m chuckling. Now my head is pounding even more. I hope that today, you get some chuckles from some of your fondest Christmas memories, minus any headaches. Now go do some decorating and jot down some poems to share, for tomorrow’s soul Sunday. Ciao.
Happy Friday, my brilliant readers and friends!! New readers, today is Favorite Things Friday. On Fridays, I list at least three of my favorite anythings and I strongly encourage you to share your favorites in the Comments section. Also, check out previous Friday posts for other good recommendations to make your life just a little more warm and snuggly . . . which segues me into describing one of my all-time favorites. I love my Poof! black, slinky, cozy, comfortable, comforting, cowl-neck sweater so much, that I bought three of them, so that I can wear one of them practically each and every morning, to take my daughter to school. (not sure how she feels about that, but hey, it’s not my pjs) This sweater just spoons against my body in just the perfect way. I could probably stretch the neck part of the sweater to fit my entire body, just by itself, if I wanted to, but that would make it look a body bag, which would take away from this sweater’s charm. I love it so much, that if I weren’t already married, I’d marry it (them). I’d marry my Poof! sweaters. Sorry, honey.
Okay today’s favorites:
Acupuncture – I made my first ever acupuncture appointment about a month ago, as a last ditch effort to get rid of a months long chronic eye twitch, before succumbing to a neurologist appointment, as suggested by my primary care doctor. A visit to two doctors plus an eye doctor, a bottle of tonic water, two different prescriptions for muscle relaxers, eye drops, eye spray, warm compresses, etc. The list goes on and on, and none of it worked. After just one session of acupuncture, I didn’t have an eye twitch for five hours straight and by three sessions, it was completely gone. I am so impressed and I have decided to make acupuncture part of my regular health regime. My health insurance even covers it, which is wise on their part, because I have cancelled the neurology appointment, which undoubtedly, would have involved expensive and stressful testing.
Prayer Box – I have a tiny little commercially made prayer box, which is very nice, but I just bought a bigger one, recently, at a local arts and crafts fair and I put my other little prayer box inside of that one. (As I have mentioned before, I worry and pray about just about everything.) I like prayer boxes because it forces me to write out what my concerns are, and then it makes me do the physical experience of leaving my troubles with God/Universe and getting on with my day. Plus, every once in a while I clean out my prayer box, and it never fails to amaze me, when I read about all of those things that were bothering me, that they have resolved themselves, sometimes not how I requested them to resolve, but usually in even better and more miraculous ways that my small mind could have imagined. So then, the next time a disturbance comes to my mind, I remind myself that it will resolve itself, like all of the other “problems and perplexities” piled in the prayer box.
Nars VIP Room Essentials Kit – Nars is expensive make-up, no doubt and I always like to try drug store brands first and then work my way up, if necessary. Still, Nars has a few items that I now consider essentials. Nars’ Laguna Bronzer and its Orgasm The Multiple Cheek Stick. (yes, Orgasm especially, is crucial . . . but you already knew that) I bought two of these kits on a crazy good Black Friday online special, but if you want to try the bronzer and the cheek stick, there are minis of these included in the kit, which also has lip crayons and Nars’ wonderful mascara. I think that this kit is even worth its regular price.
