It is with the smallest sense of relief that we find ourselves on the other side of the holidays. Sigh. We are tired. This season seemed especially full. I adore parties, but in the end, I started to long for home and quiet and routine.
Tonight, we celebrated my little brother's birthday, which always marks the end of the holidays in my family - our New Year's baby. I have always called him the Littlest, because he is the youngest of two dear brothers who belong to me. But he's not little at all. He is twenty today. Twenty.
That number holds some weight. And some clout. He says he feels just the same as he did when he was nineteen (yesterday). And I said, just wait. One day, twenty will feel much different than nineteen.
Last night, we took down our Christmas tree. Our lovely, full, sweet-smelling tree. We packed up the ornaments and wrapped them in tissue paper, wound up the Christmas lights, and laundered the tree skirt. Ben took the tree out to the curb, and when we came home today, it was gone. Just like that.
It was time to take down the tree, but I felt a little blue to be moving on. Closing out the season. Moving in to the New Year. Our living room seems to have found new space, but I miss the white lights and the soft beckoning glow they gave to the corner of the living room.
The New Year always feels a little bittersweet. I love the promise and potential and possibility of a new year, but it's a little daunting. The pressure of a whole year to come (what are your resolutions?).
It rained all day yesterday - a melancholy beginning to the year, but a good excuse to take an afternoon nap, with rain turmbling through the gutters. And today, we started the New Year more officially - we returned to work with coffee in our cups and pressing projects and great expectations.
Last year was about trying to find our place, trying to figure out where we belong. So, we've decided that this year is about settling in to the place at which we've finally arrived. Digging our fingers deep into the rich soil, spreading our hands wide, and sighing with relief at being in one place. Able to rest and grow deeply in one place.
This year is about being Home.
3 comments:
happy new year adlards!
Shot for the fondue set -very cool (though it's a mystery how that little candle keeps the chocolate molten). We inaufurated it at the end of a dinner party we (Ros, I'm not a socialte at all, where's my shotgun) threw on Saturday night. It was a smash hit, except we hadn't known that one woman was on a new diet, and we'd forgotten the other was diebetic. The diabetiv loved it -seems she's grown enamoured with puncturing her abdomen with needles! So! Cool, awesome! Thanks for the gift!-) P
Home. that is a great theme for the new year. can't wait to see you.
JM
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