We got a bit of your rain, not as much as you. Thanks for sharing your words Amy. Holidays can present a narrative not worth buying into. I used to run myself ragged and into a chronic blue period for the first two months of the year, seemingly every year. Your ideas about gratitude projects, art, journaling really gave me something new to focus on during that time instead, it’s become a time of year and project that I look forward to.
It means a lot to me to see you say that, Lauren. That's wonderful, and I'm so glad that your perspective has changed -- and that you enjoy these days more. I think this is a really good way to put it: "Holidays can present a narrative not worth buying into." -- There's a lot to be said for slowing down!
The weather folks definitely have a flair for the dramatic? A bomb cyclone followed by an atmospheric river. It is windy here this morning, but unfortunately no rain.
I envy ceramics for finding equilibrium, I will be clinking and pinging all my life.
I love the idea of the pottery Clinking. How wonderful your son is creating this way! My pots were often bottom heavy. I loved making them but my hands would be chapped. I never had beautiful glazes like he does. It was so long ago I imagine that those glazes have advanced.
We had a rain and wind storm this week. It was called a bomb cyclone. 2 huge fir trees fell across a 4 lane major road close by. First responders arrived (I am a block from the fire department) and the road was closed . Hours later the trees were sawed up and mostly gone. No one injured. Thank goodness. Power was lost in many areas of the city and lots of trees fell.
I used some fir branches and some gorgeous holly I found to fill my flower pots on the patio. They do not look as sad this way. And they are free seasonal decor.
Holidays have been something I have avoided celebrating for years. I never lived near my family. I had my own small one but that ended 20 years just after a Christmas. My daughters have their own families now including in-laws and have places they like to go for certain holidays. I have always felt these holidays were commercial. Another way for big business to make a profit. And no I never watch Hallmark movies. I don't have tv and avoid advertising!
I spent years creating Santa and snowmen art!
I do look forward to the grandkids excitement. I do make a few Christmas cards for friends and neighbors. I am grateful for all of them.
I am glad there were no serious problems with your weather, Gail. The rains from this storm were definitely intense. I am glad you have found your own ways with the holidays. I am sure the grandkids do bring a smile!
I hope you have peace this week as well. My week will be more go-go-go than usual because we’re going to a college football game Saturday, which cuts the family visiting a little short. I’m looking for all the peaceful grateful moments I can gather up this week.
Oh.... I had just wished you REST in response to your other comment, and here I see that rest isn't really on the menu! I hope you find and gather as many quiet and slow moments as you can. Enjoy it!
Though no situation is ever the same, none of the threads, and none of the holes, I am reminded of my mother who lost her mother, unexpectedly, on November 20th and her father on December 10th of the same year. She was just 45. Half a lifetime later, she lost my father on November 6th. He'd been unwell, but she still didn't expect it. It was a good run, all those years between the first calamitous losses and the second, but the winter holidays were never quite the same. There was always a hole.
I am reminded of what I write here, of how much I never knew and how much I have forgotten, and I'm grateful to be able to get at least some of the stories down, even if they're not attached to the whole.
I am reminded of how traumatic the last year was for you, how stoic you were, how so many of your posts were about calling the ambulance, or visiting in the hospital, and how at the time I thought how disjointed everything must feel, a swirl of time punctuated by bouts of acute illness. A mind can't make room for all of that and also embrace the details of the days, or at least mine can't.
I hope you can make the days ahead what they need to be for you, Amy, for right now, despite all that's missing.
So much loss for your mother and the same span of months over time, and in that first year, how terrible that must have been. I am sure that the winter months were never the same. Although I know how resilient we are as a people. I am glad that these months are well away from the death. I think that I have to go through a year of living through these events that feel so very layered in order to pass them by the first time. And that’s okay. Thank you for reading, first of all, and for giving me words to think about and a perspective and a lens to look from the outside in. It’s always helpful for us to see what others perceive … and what we might not be seeing. Wishing all of you a warm and easy holiday.
I'm wishing for you a peaceful week as well ❤️❤️❤️ I hope you get that quiet walk and a nice glass of wine.
As for us, who decided that the election would come right before the holidays? I'm hoping for a minimum of "clinking" 🤞🤞🤞
Thank you for commenting, Melissa. I hope things are smooth all around!
We got a bit of your rain, not as much as you. Thanks for sharing your words Amy. Holidays can present a narrative not worth buying into. I used to run myself ragged and into a chronic blue period for the first two months of the year, seemingly every year. Your ideas about gratitude projects, art, journaling really gave me something new to focus on during that time instead, it’s become a time of year and project that I look forward to.
It means a lot to me to see you say that, Lauren. That's wonderful, and I'm so glad that your perspective has changed -- and that you enjoy these days more. I think this is a really good way to put it: "Holidays can present a narrative not worth buying into." -- There's a lot to be said for slowing down!
The weather folks definitely have a flair for the dramatic? A bomb cyclone followed by an atmospheric river. It is windy here this morning, but unfortunately no rain.
I envy ceramics for finding equilibrium, I will be clinking and pinging all my life.
We must live near each other! Vancouver area?
I am observing from afar. Most of the people I care about are up the west side. I am in Texas where it continues to be warm and sunny.
Oops sorry…I guess the words bomb cyclone are more commonly used.
Lol. Love that, Laura. Cheers to the clinging. It's not a bad pitch.
I love the idea of the pottery Clinking. How wonderful your son is creating this way! My pots were often bottom heavy. I loved making them but my hands would be chapped. I never had beautiful glazes like he does. It was so long ago I imagine that those glazes have advanced.
We had a rain and wind storm this week. It was called a bomb cyclone. 2 huge fir trees fell across a 4 lane major road close by. First responders arrived (I am a block from the fire department) and the road was closed . Hours later the trees were sawed up and mostly gone. No one injured. Thank goodness. Power was lost in many areas of the city and lots of trees fell.
I used some fir branches and some gorgeous holly I found to fill my flower pots on the patio. They do not look as sad this way. And they are free seasonal decor.
Holidays have been something I have avoided celebrating for years. I never lived near my family. I had my own small one but that ended 20 years just after a Christmas. My daughters have their own families now including in-laws and have places they like to go for certain holidays. I have always felt these holidays were commercial. Another way for big business to make a profit. And no I never watch Hallmark movies. I don't have tv and avoid advertising!
I spent years creating Santa and snowmen art!
I do look forward to the grandkids excitement. I do make a few Christmas cards for friends and neighbors. I am grateful for all of them.
I am glad there were no serious problems with your weather, Gail. The rains from this storm were definitely intense. I am glad you have found your own ways with the holidays. I am sure the grandkids do bring a smile!
I hope you have peace this week as well. My week will be more go-go-go than usual because we’re going to a college football game Saturday, which cuts the family visiting a little short. I’m looking for all the peaceful grateful moments I can gather up this week.
Oh.... I had just wished you REST in response to your other comment, and here I see that rest isn't really on the menu! I hope you find and gather as many quiet and slow moments as you can. Enjoy it!
Though no situation is ever the same, none of the threads, and none of the holes, I am reminded of my mother who lost her mother, unexpectedly, on November 20th and her father on December 10th of the same year. She was just 45. Half a lifetime later, she lost my father on November 6th. He'd been unwell, but she still didn't expect it. It was a good run, all those years between the first calamitous losses and the second, but the winter holidays were never quite the same. There was always a hole.
I am reminded of what I write here, of how much I never knew and how much I have forgotten, and I'm grateful to be able to get at least some of the stories down, even if they're not attached to the whole.
I am reminded of how traumatic the last year was for you, how stoic you were, how so many of your posts were about calling the ambulance, or visiting in the hospital, and how at the time I thought how disjointed everything must feel, a swirl of time punctuated by bouts of acute illness. A mind can't make room for all of that and also embrace the details of the days, or at least mine can't.
I hope you can make the days ahead what they need to be for you, Amy, for right now, despite all that's missing.
So much loss for your mother and the same span of months over time, and in that first year, how terrible that must have been. I am sure that the winter months were never the same. Although I know how resilient we are as a people. I am glad that these months are well away from the death. I think that I have to go through a year of living through these events that feel so very layered in order to pass them by the first time. And that’s okay. Thank you for reading, first of all, and for giving me words to think about and a perspective and a lens to look from the outside in. It’s always helpful for us to see what others perceive … and what we might not be seeing. Wishing all of you a warm and easy holiday.
Same to you, Amy. 💜
I hope this week is what you need it to be right now, Amy. ❤️