Winter Solstice = the least daylight of the year, so cram as much as you can (within reason) while the sun shines. Winter Solistce also marks the day we turn the corner and head back to the light. It’s too early to schedule the pool opening but never too early to start thinking about it.
Anyway, with what’s going on in my brain lately, I suspect a CT scan might look a lot like what Johnny Mathis sees when he’s sitting by the fireside, watching the chestnuts pop. Pop! Pop! Pop!
Lots of activity up there, and it’s more cacophony than symphony…but I’m hoping to offset that tonight when we’ll celebrate yet another annual festive family holiday tradition—Holiday Pops. We’ll pile into the Armada (affectionately dubbed The Holiday Express this time of year—I’m not sure if it’s hit 200K miles yet but it’s well on its way), stop in Cambridge for some festive holiday cheer at my nephew and his significant other’s apartment before heading down Mass Avenue to dinner at The Westland, after which we’ll take a short walk on to Symphony Hall—home of the Boston Pops—and some festive holiday music. This is a very long-standing, almost-sacred family tradition, and it’s one that we all adore, maybe even more than we adore Him. (I kid, I kid. Kind of.)
It’s also when the holiday season goes from 0 to 100. Things from here on out unfold at a breakneck pace.
Game on!
All the more reason to breathe deeply and take it all in tonight.
Before I get into my random thoughts, I want to share a reminder that I got when I was out walking on Tuesday.
My head was down more than it should have been…a mind alternating between being deep in thought and wandering distractedly. I was constantly chiding myself to look up and around. That’s when I saw this sign, surrounded by all that green grass and blue sky (on December 19, in the Northeast, no less)…and it struck me in such a way that I paused to snap a pic of it. As I walked ahead, “up and over” the speed bump, two things hit me:
The speed bump was NBD, and
Obstacle or not, it was surrounded by all that beauty—context counts. Note to self: broaden your view. Life is lived in 360 degrees in a ridiculously expansive space. Don’t focus on the pin dots.
I’m taking my response to the sign as a sign.
Of what, who knows?
Who cares?
It’s Christmas. 😂😂😂🤦♀️
Life. If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry.
Wouldn’t we all?
Anyhow, about those popping chestnuts in my brain:
The stuffed peppers from Costco (in the prepared foods section) are absolutely delicious. And they reheat wonderfully.
This week we got an update on Celine Dion’s suffering from stiff person syndrome. It’s awful in and of itself but the fact that she may never again be able to dramatically pound her chest while singing “My Heart Will Go On” is positively unthinkable.
Speaking of musical acts with Vegas residencies…U2 at The Sphere looks like a pretty cool take…and I’d love to catch a show. That said, Larry Mullen Jr. is NOT with the band right now, so it’s not really U2. More like U1.5.
I’m chipping away at my holiday errands , and this week it started at Total Wine at 10AM on Tuesday. Bit of a shit show, TBH, but I’m all stocked up for whatever your pleasure might be. Gotta go to Holiday Hell (all the prep) before you arrive at Holiday Heaven (sitting down to a full table on Xmas Eve). I feel you, Baby J!
Yesterday I was feeling a little blue Christmas, so to make myself feel “better” I decided to go down a “River” rathole on Spotify. That’s one of those songs that slows everything down for me, makes me push back from my desk, stop what I’m doing, close my eyes, listen, and breathe it all in. Of course the OG version of “River” by the divine Joni Mitchell is not on Spotify, so I was going through a bunch of covers. There are some decent ones…but the only great one IMO is by Sarah McLachlan. I love that whole album of hers, Wintersong, the title track of which stops me in my tracks…every…single...time. “Song for a Winter’s Night” is pretty sublime too. But in the end, who am I kidding? If I had a river I could skate away on, I wouldn’t. If you weren’t here the last time I was on skates, well, you can catch up on that horror show here if you’re so inclined. What’s your fave non-Joni version of “River”? What’s your fave (random) holiday song/album? This is a new one that puts some pep in my step—long live Christmas!
Though I also find myself enjoying this one tremendously too:
I was going over my Xmas Eve menu with my sister the other day (the one who lives in MI and isn’t “home” for Xmas) and commented that my only challenge is making sure the potatoes (prepped in advance) aren’t too cold when they go into the over or they take way too long to heat up. (Also, I’ve learned that if I’m making enough potatoes for an army I need to put them in two pans…the sheer density poses a whole other heating challenge.) Anyway, she suggested I go with make-ahead mashed potatoes to make it easier on myself. Delicious though they might be, it was not a viable suggestion. At all. Potatoes Byron are my dad’s favorite. No matter that this is our 10th Christmas since he died…they are *never* coming off the menu.
Even though it’s been a while without him, I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad lately. I still can’t do it without crying, but it’s definitely more a wistful sad than a grief sad that I feel the more time passes. As the “kids” grow up I think about how much he would love to be watching it all, hearing all their news…he loved being a part of everything, so there always will be a little hole in the fabric of our family. Sigh. But in a lot of ways, he’s still here too, which brings us all comfort in our own ways.
One more while I’m carrying on about my dad…at this time of year, he always wanted us (me, my mom, and my sister who is nearby) to go out Christmas shopping and for lunch. Over the last week or so my mom mentioned going for oysters at Sorelle, so we went on Tuesday (buck a shuck!). The three of us sat at the bar, we toasted my dad (he would have loved that we were there together), and it turned out to be one of those perfect nights. Life is short. Eat the oysters.
Moving right along…enough crying about dad. Every year at this time I’m flummoxed by Perry Como’s singing of one line in “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays.” When he’s cruising along in that sugar-toned voice of his and sings, “gee, the traffic is terrific,” I just don’t get it. Horrific, yes. Terrifc? No matter which version of the definition you use, NFW! I’ll tell you this—drivers doing holiday errands by and large have ZERO holiday spirit, unless I missed the memo and the middle finger is shorthand for “Merry Christmas.” Yesterday, I saw lots of people out there pointing to the North Pole with their middle fingers. Ho. Ho. Ho.
Since I mentioned speed bumps earlier, well, here’s hoping you have that friend who hears you hit one and then sends you a custom Spotify playlist the very next day to perk you up. I’m grateful that I do. The mixtape is not dead, and there’s no greater sign of love. Thanks, friend—love you long time! (The playlist is sublime—just what I needed!)
There was a popular-ish comedian named Rich Hall back in the 1980s and he used to do a bit on what he called “sniglets,” made-up words to describe common things which had no dictionary word. One of the words I remember vividly was “musquirt,” describing that Nile River-like flow of water that inevitably comes from the nozzle of the mustard bottle, no matter how hard you shake it first. Yesterday, to avoid the soggy-bread situation, I got smart and opened the nozzle over the sink, inverted the bottle, and let it drain out. I turned to put it on my sandwich and—boom—more musquirt. Unbelievable. Goddamn musquirt.
As I wrap up here I find my mind wandering a bit…thinking about what I am going to wear tonight and just need to ask—where does anyone buy “nice” clothes these days? I mean, I’m all for athleisure…but not to the symphony. (Gasp.) Thank God for that old but gorgeous pair of sequined Chuck Taylors that I can build a festive outfit around on a dime. (They don’t make ’em like that anymore.)
Twelve seems like a good place to stop today, with the 12 Days of Christmas and all. So in this (allegedly) festive holiday season, regardless of what you do or don’t believe in and/or celebrate, I wish you tidings of comfort and joy, a peaceful and happy heart, and a life full of people to love and people who love you.
Thanks for being here, as always.
Love you too.
Merry Christmas
Happy, merry, everything, my friend! If you find a good place to shop, or a solution to getting the potatoes warm at the tight time... let me know! Have a wonderful holiday!