Holiday Good Intentions Gone Astray

I had the best of intentions. Since I work for a very conscious company, I try to keep everything in alignment with the best possible politically correct ideals.  

Yesterday, I got a last minute template from a referral partner we’re doing an event with, and noticed that it mentioned Christmas and Hanukkah, but I did not catch the misspelling of the Jewish holiday in the original document. To make matters worse (from a spelling standpoint),  I  decided to honor two other holidays associated with mid-winter: Winter Solstice (mercifully, spelled correctly) and Kwanzaa. I diligently looked up Kwanzaa and noted the version with a double “a” was the first choice spelling. Still, my mind transposed the z with an s – oh dear! So I sent out an email with two significant holidays misspelled. I’m hoping the people celebrating those holidays don’t judge me too harshly.

My heart was in the right place – is that the same as “it’s the thought that counts”? When things get busy and hectic, it’s a good reminder that our connections are what matter at this time of year. Mistakes may happen. Someone might say the wrong thing, pick out an ugly tie, or even mess up a family recipe. The key is to keep everything in perspective, and stay humble. It’s the time of year to feel the love, imagine peace and keep our eyes on the stars at night.

Season is Here

Gosh, I haven’t blogged in so long it seems strange to be doing it again, but I’m hoping it’s a bit like riding a bicycle – I won’t forget once I feel the wind in my hair. With the onset of chilly weather here in northern California, as in other places, it’s starting to feel more like the holidays.

I did start organizing some presents to be wrapped last weekend, and made a few festive raw vegan treats in my dehydrator during the week – also put up decorations. But it was unseasonably warm then, so my psyche didn’t feel “in the spirit” quite yet, although admiring the combination of sparkle and natural elements  I assemble for the season is a pleasure.

Reminds me of the Japanese tradition of storing things and bringing out only a few at any given time – allowing the eye to appreciate the aesthetic of things seldom seen.

A couple of years ago, my son informed me that he didn’t really care so much about the whole wheat scones I’d made at Christmastime for many years, and actually prefers raw food treats made in the dehydrator, as they are more unique and he enjoys sharing them with friends. Well, who knew?  

Lots to accomplish this weekend – wrapping presents, boxing them up, getting ready for the trek to the Post Office next week (thank God for the Post Office, long may she endure!) It’s all good, as the kids say. Still got a few more treats up my sleeve, too and I have a bunch of recipes strewn about the house in various folders and notebooks. Always mean to collate them and get them in order. Well, we’ll see. It will be nice to be cozy this weekend and start listening to holiday music again….hmmmm

The Carol Singing Sea

It’s the Second Chrismas Day in Scandinavia – the Day of the Wren, or St. Stephen’s Day, according to Wikipedia. Sounds ever so much nicer than Boxing Day to me. This Christmas season has been quite wonderful, and, as usual, after all of the hullabaloo, it’s the Second Christmas Day when I really begin to notice the beauty of the time. For weeks I was apprehensive about what the season would bring, and worried about what I would do and how I would catch up with all of my tasks, both at work and at home. I watched only one holiday movie (if you don’t count Bell, Book, and Candle at the very beginning of the month.) I talked to my son Simon for hours on several consecutive days leading up to Christmas Eve…that was a special treat. We shared memories, and insights about our lives and Christmases past and future, and tales of his friends’ kids and their antics, and his new favorite Italian coffee shop recently discovered in his current home town, Prince Rupert. He’s so happy in his new job, and I am grateful that he feels appreciated, and also appreciates the new people he is working with. He’s spending Christmas with his Dad in Hazelton, B.C. and with friends he’s known since he was a small boy. He started his Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, and it sounded like he was enjoying the season. That made me feel very happy. I took these photos on Christmas Eve. My friend Martine invited me to join her and her boyfriend Jason at Pacific Star Winery, which is on the coast just a few miles from town.
It was 63 degrees that day, and sunny. We sat outside at a picnic table and shared a bottle of wine. The sea was gorgeous and the sun was setting as I headed home. (On the 23rd, I had been at a party at my hairdresser’s friend’s place, and sat in a hot tub in the cold night, with a fire burning in the fire pit nearby.) The evening of the 24th my friend Patricia, her husband Rich and I went to the Christmas pageant at Evergreen Methodist. Patricia took videos of our friend Amanda’s little girl Chloe being an angel. Then Christmas Day, we had Christmas dinner at Noyo Harbor. We went at 3:30, and left again just as the sun was setting. Today, I organized my art room (with hopes that I might actually do some art in the coming year), and almost got started on my Christmas cards. But not quite, because I decided to write this blog instead. I still have to bake scones, but I’m not too far behind, and I’m listening to Dylan Thomas and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. I’ve also taken up knitting again after 37 years this December. Simon may get something knitted for Chrismas next year.

Up Pops Christmas

When I contemplated four days stretching before me it seemed I had a world of time, but days off do have a way of slipping by very quickly….I got a fresh, live tree, and dragged it in the house. Luckily, it is only four feet tall and very full, but it wasn’t hard to carry, and it was already on a stand (one of the main considerations, other than tree lights.) This particular tree only takes one long string of colored lights and the wall plug is just behind the tree. Do these considerations seem frivolous? Not at all..they can be a source of frustration, so why not just make the whole thing easier by having all of one’s ducks in a row. I saw the tree – I seized the moment, and voila! Even before the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, my halls are well-decked. I have several different motifs…all gold on the chest i brought from Louisiana, and a very spare look on the table – the tree is quite natural looking – I’ll share photos later. All this syncing and uploading…well, I’m just not in the mood right now. I’m mainly writing the blog to blow off steam (coming out the top of my head because after I created a playlist for my radio show tomorrow night, I couldn’t burn a CD…uploaded a new version of iTunes, closed all the other apps, restarted computer, had to re-set clock because it said 2000….tried to burn the CD more than 7 times, and I saw on a forum that if you do that it might not work, so transferred the songs to a new playlist – still no luck, just the constant refrain: “please insert blank CD.” Even changed setting to 2x like it said in another forum…oh well. I guess this is a rant. I started working on the show  – called Mind Body Gratitude Food (collaborating with poet and artist Blake More) early today, and was very proud that I wouldn’t have to stay up late, and now look!

Time and Memory

It’s inevitable. No matter how much you think you might just slide by and not get caught up in the Christmas zeitgeist, it comes out of nowhere and grabs onto your psyche, and there you are – right in the middle of all those memories. Sometimes I just want to escape and not face up to them. I’ve just returned from a visit to my hometown, Portland, Oregon, hotbed of vintage nostalgia and newly landed hipsters. (Or maybe they took over a long time ago.) It was great seeing everyone (although far too short). Won’t be making the trip back up for the holidays, and my son just landed a great new job up in northern British Columbia, so we won’t be getting together this Christmas either. Looks like simplicity is in order…maybe a fast from both memory and expectation? 

Easier said than done, some say. Question: where is the perfect couple? How many parties are enough? I was invited to a party last night and heard today that 50 people attended. I’m glad they had a good time, but really, when I listened to what I wanted, I just couldn’t go. I had to admit to myself that with the wind blowing outside, and rain sleeting down, I honestly preferred to stay cozy at home. As it happened, my son called and we had a very long conversation, which meant a lot more to me than small talk at parties. In fact, parties interest me less and less these days. I have a friend Patrick, whose granny always said “I am my own best company,” and I’m thinking I may be getting to that stage. My interior life is becoming more interesting to me than anything on the outside. I did have a good day today. After tidying up ( and changing two light bulbs that required a ladder!), I went down to Mendocino. The windstorm last night blew away the clouds and I had a lovely walk along the headlands. Went to the Art Explorers exhibit, and picked up dinner at Harvest. Must admit, I listened to some Christmas music on iTunes…a playlist I created for a radio show last year. It’s music that gets me in the mood.