December, you’ve always been a problem child. I love well beyond the majority of Sara Bareilles’s songs, but December perfectly describes this time for me. I realize the last month of the year is all about holidays and baking, family and friends, but no matter how we dress it up December is a myth. In…
Changing habits and challenging established expectations is stressful stuff, but this is my year. All the wrapping will be recycled or reusable, and all of my gifts will be local or handmade by small shops via Etsy. I will not purchase one gift from a big store. This year and every year after, I am doing…
I’m not feeling it. I know, I type this every year, but jeez why is it Christmas again? Maybe my internal calendar is off because it feels like . . . March to me. I sometimes have these fantasies of getting on a plane bound for somewhere that doesn’t care that it’s Christmas. I’m not…
I usually get lost in Christmas. The shopping is especially whirly for me. I ask my children for lists, ideas, and then I set about buying most of the things they think they need, as if Christmas is the only time I will ever be able to buy them new socks or a cozy sweater. I’m…
We went to Handel’s Messiah last weekend. I’m completely in love with our symphony’s conductor. He moves his whole body, lets the music flow through him. He’s not just a tux and a stick. He’s more and I like that. Plus his name is Tito, so there’s that. We go to Handel’s every year. I’m not…
Our Christmas tree fell off the roof of our car. Things are rarely as I envision them, but this, this was a first. It rumbled, tugged, and then fell right off. Tree flying in the rear view mirror, Griswold, but not funny, not a movie. This has never happened and I of course wonder if it is some kind…
A recent encounter with the lotion ladies could be the beginning of my holiday spirit. That would mean it’s super early this year. I was at Walgreens, my favorite putzing around convincing myself I need Tic Tacs store, looking for a new lotion. The lotion I currently use is too expensive and I’m tired of spending that kind of…
We had our Christmas picture professionally taken for the first time. Actually, it was the first time we have had professional photos as a family. Let’s say that we are more of a candid shot kind of crowd. We have taken our own Christmas picture in front of our tree, timer set, someone running, every year, but…
Are you getting excited for the holidays? I cringe at this question because it’s asked earlier and earlier ever year. I’m usually not ready, not even in the ballpark of a holiday mood. That cringe starts a wave of self reflection… Why aren’t I excited? What’s wrong with me? Maybe I’m not really happy, maybe…