But it's snowing, and it's Christmastime. Amid a lot of cursing, I put the tree up and got the lights on yesterday. This year we put tin foil on the wall behind it, as my Father did. Though he'd cut a skyline out of construction paper and run it around the crown molding, too. And put lights and garland everywhere. Got the garland part going, but not the lights or skyline. This is the most I've decorated in years. Maybe the skyline and lights will happen next year.
Tomorrow, friends will trek through the snow to trim the tree and eat comfort food. I made Irish cream last week, so that's ready. We'll feast and laugh and tell each other what we think, like all the other years. There's a real comfort in traditions and knowing what to expect. Each of us has been through the mill in 2017. Time to air grievances.
Next I need to decide on whether the fruits and nuts soaking in whiskey will end up mincemeat pie or fruitcake. Were that all of life was made of such quandaries!
For the next weeks I'm going to spend more time staring at my tree and talking to people. My energy will go toward keeping my spirits up so I can keep others' spirits up, too. We've been bottom-dwelling for too long, an easy thing to do with the state of things.
I hope, however and whatever you celebrate, that it gladdens your heart and lightens what load you carry. May a thousand good things shower on you every day, now and in the new year.
Posts
5 comments:
Great post, Laura. We have to get the merry in our lives and nothing does it better than spending it with good friends and family. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
I so hope that your lovely wishes, like charity, start at home.
My alcohol laden fruit has been made into cakes. 15 this year of various sizes, most going as gifts to family and friends. I 'water' them after they come out of the oven too, so they are the cake you have when you are having a drink.
It is good to hear from you again. Just today I was looking at your icon in my sidebar and thinking if I didn't see something move soon I was going to check in with you. 2017 may go down in the books as the year most of us would like to forget. Your get together with friends sounds lovely and should go a long way to making the season 'merry and bright'.
PS...I vote for fruitcake.
I love your plan for uplifting spirits, brightening the season for others. Just reading your post got it started for me and I'm 3000 miles away --so you must be really good at it. All my best wishes to you, Laura, in this and all seasons.
I've never heard of anyone putting aluminum foil behind the tree, but I bet it looks really pretty. Once upon a time, we "framed" every light on the tree with flower-shaped aluminum foil pieces. And then, of course, there was the all-aluminum tree, spotlighted with a light and its color-changing disc... Your way sounds lots better.
Anyhow, I wish you all the best, dear Laura. This has been a tough year in many ways, but if we can't change the state of the world, maybe the best we can do is brighten the corners where we are.
I still have your recipe for Irish cream. I believe this is the year I'm gonna make it, by golly! My hubby has been drinking the store-bought stuff recently, and I know the homemade will be lots better. I recently made some alcoholic root beer. YUM!
Merry Christmas, sweetie!
Post a Comment