a search for authenticity
I know most of my friends do not set resolutions for the new year….or at least they don’t admit to it, but I do. Last year I set 2 goals: to make money from selling my jewelry and by writing. With some luck and help from friends, I accomplished both! In ‘08 I want to better my sewing skills so that I can make clothes and I want to put some jewelry on my etsy site.
So, what about you? Any goals for ‘08?
Christmas traditions that still go on in Narrows:
- My grandmother will apologize 1,000,000 times for not buying us enough stuff.
- Both my mom & grandmother will stay up till 3 am wrapping gifts, then promise each other that next year they will just put everything in gift bags.
- My grandmother will cook too much food and if you are not eating 24/7 she will apologize that she didn’t make something you like.
- And the greatest of all Narrows Christmas traditions…..someone will ask me if I have gained weight.
After a few conversations about what to get each other for Christmas this year, Dan & I decided not to exchange gifts at all. In years past we’ve try to be somewhat creative with our gift-giving. One year we set a limit of $30. Other years we’ve exchanged poetry books and gifts to inspire creativity. Last year we promised new tattoos to each other. But this year it seems more frustrating to come up with gift idea than it is worth. Anyone else not exchanging gifts with their spouse this year?
Here I am again,
Overwhelming feelings
A thousand miles away
From your ocean home
Part of me is near
Thoughts of what we were invade
The miles that stand between
We can’t separate
Your all I hoped you’d become
Sister I see you
Dancing on the stage
Of memory
Sister I miss you
Fleeting visits pass
Still they satisfy
Reminders of the next
Overshadow goodbye
Our flames burn as one
Sister I see you
Dancing on the stage
Of memory
Sister I miss you
All I am begins with you
Thoughts of hope understood
Half of me breathes in you
Thoughts of love remain true
Here we are again saying goodbye
Still we fall asleep underneath the same sky
You’re all I knew you’d become
Sister I see you
Dancing on the stage
Of memory
Sister I miss you
Entwined, you and I
Our souls speak from across the miles
Intertwined, you and I
Our blood flows from the same inside
Half of me, breathes in you
Thoughts of love remain true
I see you, I feel you
When I close my eyes
I see walking there…
I see you dancing in my mind
Words of encouragement I received in an email from the mother of one of the VT victims:
“If we can heal, the world will be a much better place.”
This weekend I will be:
Making curtains for my sister
Making at least 6 jewelry sets
Knitting until my fingers fall off
Holiday Baking (maybe)
Drinking lots of wine
If you would like to join me in crafting and drinking, come on over.
When you are in the same room with someone, each on separate computers, and you talk via Instant Messenger instead of speaking to them out loud.
This little definition from Urban Dictionary describes at least half of the communication that occurs in my marriage.
Three more senseless shootings in the past few days. Dozens of families who will never be the same. Dozens of people, who are hurting and who lost their life today, because a death doesn’t end just one life.
Maybe our conversations and journey in life shouldn’t be so focused on figuring out what is right and what is wrong, because there are times when life doesn’t follow those rules. There are times when everything you want to believe about good defeating evil, about bad things not happening to good people just don’t seem true. It is in those moments that I think we should worry less about figuring out right and wrong, and spend more energy trying to figure out how to give life/hope/love/peace/joy back to those who are in pain.
Crafting holiday gifts has got me thinking about creativity. Nothing has seemed to bring “healing” into my life like trying to connect with my creative spirit. Though I’m just making simple jewelry and knit gifts, each completed project brings a little bit of peace into my life. But, even though it brings so much goodness into my day, there are times when I need some inspiration to get started with a project, or to have the courage to do something different. I know a lot of you also enjoy being creative - with crafts, writing, blogs, relationships, baking, work, home decorating and much more. What are some sources of inspiration for you? Songs? Poems? Movies? Books? People?
The nominations have been announced, now it’s time to VOTE!!!
I guess Christmas celebrating is in full-swing. On Friday we went downtown to see all Christmas lights and enjoy warm drinks. Yesterday I pulled out our Christmas decorations and put some up, not as much as in past years. No tree. No outside decorations other than the wreath I made for our first Christmas. Our weekends are quickly filling up with holiday parties, already we are having to plan a party-hopping evening. This coming weekend is also the Christmas celebrations in Church Hill.
Like many of you, growing up and moving away from home means having to redefine the Christmas experience. I had to let go of a lot of traditions, which usually left me saying, “it doesn’t feel like Christmas.” Since then, I’ve tried new ways of celebrating each year with various friends and my extended family. These new celebrations were meaningful, enjoyable and usually spent with people I love, but still never felt like the holidays I had fallen in love with as a child at home. I guess this year will be the ultimate “doesn’t feel like Christmas” season. Everything already feels like I’m going through the motions. Which, I feel obligated to do because it is much easier than to explain why I’m not following along, and also, sucking it up and getting it over with won’t bum everyone else out.
Copyright © 2008 Alicia’s Pilgrimage All rights reserved. Theme by Laptop Geek.
