Well, that's it then. New Year's has come and gone, and the holidays are officially over. This was an especially good one. We really decorated the new house for the first time, and took the time to enjoy the glow of the lights and the warmth of the fire. We didn't exhaust ourselves, and we kept the gifts reasonable. Family came to stay overnight on Christmas Eve. There was laughter and companionship and snow.
We've just returned from a quick trip to the hubby's parents in Ohio, where we celebrate "Little Christmas". There were 26 for dinner, including three babies, the first of the next generation. Dad's Alzheimer's is no worse, thank God, and he enjoyed the kids and chaos. Mom is amazing at 82, still baking and cooking and crafting for all her kids and grandkids. And I do love the car trip. Five blissful hours of quiet, dozing and thinking and just watching the world go by.
I wish I could wrap the last couple of weeks around me like a down comforter and just stay there until spring. But all good things must end.
Tomorrow I'll take down the Christmas decorations and pack them away. The house will need a good cleaning. We will need to retrieve the cat and all his paraphernalia from our son's house. I'll need to throw in some laundry and run to the grocery store.
But for just a few hours longer, I'm savoring the time. Drinking coffee and rereading the Griffin and Sabine books. I do love those in the winter. I have seasonal favorites I like to reread - for winter, it's those, as well as Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin and A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher. And Shakespeare's plays go especially well with a deep snow and a crackling fire. At the moment, we have both.
There will be time enough tomorrow for shouldering all the mundane burdens of life. But tonight, for just right now, I'm just going to snuggle up in a soft robe and read until dreams take me. I wish you all a peaceful night and a happy tomorrow.
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10 comments:
Your plan sounds great. We have been on the road since the Tuesday before Christmas so we could celebrate with the family on both sides but most importantly our Grandson in RI. Today is the final leg.... a 6 hour drive from NJ back to the Eastern Shore of Virginia and see if our field is still flooded. Have a great New Year... Planting time is just around the corner..:-)
GTB
I'm almost ready to get back to work.
Glad you enjoyed your break!
Lovely snowy photo, I also really like the coyote shots two posts back...
Grenville, I'm sure you enjoyed seeing your grandson, but that sounds like a grueling trip. I hope you squeeze in a little R&R before planting season! I can't find a link to your blog. If you have one, please post the url so I can follow you back?
DS - True, at some point one does feel the need to get back on track.
Poet, Thanks! That was taken yesterday. Now it's deeper. We haven't seen the coyote since that one time. Everyone tells me I don't want to.
What a lovely way to celebrate your last bit of the holidays.
I know what you mean here because tomorrow is the day I go register with temp and employment agencies. I can no longer afford to diddle about. I must find a job. So I'm savoring today too, because it's the last of a long run of time off.
Also, that ice covered cherry/berry in the link to this site from Maraca? I want to put that thing in my mouth like a gorgeous popsicle. I also crave frozen chocolate covered cherries when I see it.
The snow in your photo looks a lot like our snow in Ontario. Must be January!
Sounds like you had a lovely holiday with family. All the best in 2010!
So glad that you had a nice holiday with all your family.Be thankful that you can be wih your family. Im 76 now I have four kids three out of state but Im the last of my family Aunts an every one are gone. So be thankful for yours and the next time you fell down
close your eyes an think of this holiday an the fun you had
You have a good one
Bye Bye Ed
Lovely plan...It is always a bit sad to leave the warmth of the holidays and get back into the routine...Michelle
Sally, that is one luscious looking berry, isn't it. I'm not sure what that bush is, but it's pretty in the snow. Good luck with the temp agency!
Stine, thanks! Best of 2010 to you, too.
Ed, we lose someone every year now, and it never gets any easier. I do cherish the memories. As Simon and Garfunkle said, "they're all that's left you."
Michelle, it seems especially hard to let go this year, to pack away the glitter and lights and slip back into the cold and dark.
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