In no particular order…
The holidays! Gosh, I luv
this time of year. And this year in particular, because preceding Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and New Year’s, there’s a whole slew of lovely Indian festivals,
such as Navratri and Diwali, that we’ve just started celebrating, and in
grand style too. It’s been non-stop partying this season, though we haven’t had a
moment to catch our breath. As it should be, right?
My family, including my precious hubby, who at 11 p.m. is
digging for material our nine-year-old daughter needs at school by 6 a.m. tomorrow. The
brilliant witticisms said daughter comes up with at the tip of her tongue on an
hourly basis. That she asked Santa if he was related to the tooth fairy. That
she is my real-life Hugo Cabret, inventing and tinkering and making blueprints.
And our other daughter, all of six, who when asked to put on her shoes
before school, performs a rap song about “rules, rules, rules” that she makes up at the spur of the moment. Who, when brushing her teeth, hears music. Love them!
Books, lots of books. Being surrounded by books. Swimming
in books. Having endless hours to read and soak up well-strung words and ideas
that transport me to new places and perspectives. This month, Jo Nesbo, Miyuki
Miyabe, Helen Simonson, and Tin Tin.
Food. Cooking for friends and
family. Trying out new recipes. Learning something new about ourselves and other cultures through their
cuisine. We’ll be entertaining this Thursday, which happens to be Shabeh Yalda.
As maybe you did too, I learned about this ancient winter solstice celebration through Heidi, and I’m adopting it. I’m
cooking our favorite Persian stew for dinner, then we’ll eat pomegranates and watermelon
while reading poetry aloud around the fire. (Shhh, don’t tell our husbands the part about the poetry. It’ll send them running, even with the addition of fine wine.)
We’ll read bits of the traditional Rumi and Hafiz, as well as some Shel
Silverstein and possibly a little T.S. Eliot.
Being surrounded by good people. It took me time to
recognize so many of them in my crowded life, but now that I have, I’m awed by
my great fortune and will make sure to appreciate them all year round.
Writing. When it flows. Er, to be continued...
Meanwhile, we hope you're enjoying your favorite people and activities as well, now and into the new year.
