Metamorphosis
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| Society6 |
As much as I complain (loudly) about all the holiday madness, it may have all been a bit self-inflicted. After all, it was my choice to play Susie Homemaker during my time off. Well I out-Martha'd myself this winter, baking over 200 Christmas cookies who I think my family may have gifted to everyone that they knew. Luckily, I had my cousin and Misha to help decorate them, Siri being sidelined from touching any food as she was sick (her usual coughing). And then, after preparing Christmas Eve desserts and Christmas brunch, I was bushwhacked and all but secluded myself with a load of blankets and a stack of books. Shh! No interruptions, whispered Marian the Librarian, and no exceptions. Silent Night, our household was not over Christmas. Meeting my sister's boyfriend Misha was a bit overshadowed by my mom's visitors, her best friends who were more than thrilled to see her and exclaim at her progress since her operation this summer. I don't think either the wives or husbands stopped chattering for the entire 48-hour period they were visiting. Cabbages and kings, around and around, and thus I retired to my library.
About a thousand (I'm exaggerating, kinda) books later, I've emerged pink and scrubbed clean but brain awash and flooded with dare-I-say too many words and aphorisms. Many suggestions on where to take the year - spiritually, personally, and geographically. It doesn't seem strange at all, now that I've taken the time to think and reflect on it, that I should get my advice for the year from books, my ever faithful and reliable companions. The endless possibilities of the new year, my favourite part.
Happy New Year Ruth!!! Thank you for your Christmas card - you're so much better at this sort of thing than I am but I'm sending you a mental Festive hug. I needed a recovery period after Christmas too, I had three days on my own in the flat and it was bliss!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! What a time you had! Lots of people! Whew! I hit a point on Saturday, after Neel kept chatting with me all day and followed me upstairs when I went to take a shower, when I kind of lost my shit. I hadn't had any time alone in three weeks. Even on our trip, my normal early morning time was interrupted by my nephew. Up to chat with me while his parents slept. Cal goes back tomorrow and 2015 starts for me then.
ReplyDeleteOoh, hiding out with a stack of books sounds fabulous! Perfect way to start out a new year . . .
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Ruth! Despite, the sickness and the tiredness, it sounded like you had a fantastic holiday season:) So good to hear as well that your mom is doing well!
ReplyDeleteI love that both you and Christine both started off 2014 talking about books. What a good omen for the coming year. Though I hope you go easier on yourself all throughout this year, but especially at the holidays. Those feel lightyears away though. xo
ReplyDeleteHappy new year full of books to you! Your Christmas sounds a bit hectic. I cannot believe you made so many cookies! Wow! My Christmas was pretty lazy, the way I prefer it! :)
ReplyDeletei did the same thing! my holidays were emotionally exhausting and overwhelming and since then i've been reading, reading, reading, reading. finding a way back to myself in books.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!!
It certainly was a flurry of activity in your household from start to finish! Glad you got some time to yourself. We came back from traveling on Sat afternoon, so it was nice to decompress on Sunday (and Monday) since we were all under the weather. But even if we weren't, having an extra day to ourselves is nice. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love your love for books. And I love the bit about your moms best friends. I imagined it in my head. I love seeing the folks from a generation before us getting together with their long time friends and chatting away as if they were still in college :)
ReplyDelete200 cookies is *a lot* of cookies! Do you buy sugar in bulk? lol.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like a baking challenge (quality over quantity) you might want to get into French pastries. Macarons. Or a Dacquoise. Super tricky.
That sounds like a lovely holiday, and done in the proper order: overworked followed by time to relax. I have a few physical alterations too. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteYour mom probably needed that time with her friends. I'm glad she had fun and that she's doing so well.
Endless possibilities are the best part of a new year. What books have you been reading Rooth? Any recommendations?
ReplyDeletePeople time and then alone / book time sounds like the perfect combination. I hope you share the cookie pictures and your favorite books! Hooray for your mom!! I'm glad she's feeling much better and I hope she's fully back to her old self soon!
ReplyDeletegeographically? GEOGRAPHICALLY? come on. spill the beans!!!
ReplyDelete"The endless possibilities of the new year, my favourite part."
ReplyDelete^^^love this. because, yes. :)
Agreed, I love the turn of the year. It's so symbolic that it rejuvenates me every time! Let us know what books you'll be reading this year, I may want to join in.
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