DouceLifeAt50.com

I love the month of December even though it gets dark early.  My body doesn’t believe the clock, if it is 6 pm why does it feel like 8 pm, I should have started dinner hours ago, I should be in my pajamas with a good book in bed.  It’s cold out, the only snow is on my ornaments and on the mountain tops.

I do love the cold weather.  I love the way my fluffy coat snuggles me, I love the sound that my boots make on the frosted ground, I love the caress of the cold air on my cheeks and how it enters my lungs and awakens all my senses tuning my body to my surroundings.  As soon as I step out I can tell if it is going to be a sunny day by the crisp assault of air on my face.  There is nothing quite like a sunny cold northwest day, the greys have made way to the blues and greens.  The sun rays play hide and go seek around the buildings and the trees.  It is a treat to step into a ray of sunshine and to feel its warmth.  The shadow has a longer reach at this time of year, the wedge of sunshine becomes more noticeable and precious.

This december I feel content, my year has been so full of experiences that I am in need of nothing.  When my family asked me what I wanted for Christmas I really had to think, I do not need things, I would rather spend time doing things with my family.  It has been hard coming up with gift ideas as I feel nothing can top our family’s trip to Italy this summer.  Our senses were fully engaged, we discovered all these places together for the first time, how can I top that with stuff.  My daughters will still get what they need but I have been slowly working on adding gifts that will hopefully bring those memories to life again.

I don’t usually get into the Christmas spirit until a week before the big day but I always enjoy decorating the house early, I have been having fun changing things around.  The tree is only partly decorated as my daughters usually put their own ornaments on it.  This is the first year where I have had to put the lights on by myself.  I don’t know if it is because of yoga but I felt safe and stable standing with one foot on the step ladder and the other on the banister lassoing the lights around the top.  I started at the bottom thinking that at least I’d have half the tree lit but I kept going, I did not even think I could not do it.  I don’t know why I always agree to such a tall tree since I am short, putting my glass ornaments on the top per tradition was quite a workout.  After going up and down the latter dozens of times I was glad to leave the rest of the decorating for the girls.  The cat doesn’t play with the tree, although since her favorite Barbie ornament isn’t on it yet that could change, she still likes to drink out of the tree stand.  The dog doesn’t seem to care since it is not food and there are no live squirrels or birds in it.

I am enjoying all the twinkling lights and the decorations, for some reason my spirit seems in full swing, maybe it’s because I’ve been working hard on making special presents and looking forward to my girls’ visits.

I awoke this morning to see a text from my daughter who is studying in Paris, without my glasses I couldn’t tell if it was a laughing or crying emoji next to what I thought was the word important.  After putting on my reading glasses I saw all was well, it was indeed a laughing emoji with “the items in bold are a priority” followed by a list of food she wants to eat while she is home.  From mom’s kitchen:  fettuccine Alfredo, mashed potatoes, grilled potatoes, broccoli and cheddar soup, Cesar salad, pear and cranberry sauce (she was not here for Thanksgiving so making it for her at Christmas).  From around town: BBQ chicken pizza, jalapeno Mac and cheeeeeeeese!!!!!!!!! milkshake, onion rings, hot wings, seems like she is craving some Mexican food like burrito, enchiladas, taquitos, refried beans. Donuts? (I love the question mark).

Since I live alone my fridge is pretty empty, so having her list handy gives me time to plan it all out.  Now that my daughters live away from home they don’t have any trouble telling me what they want for dinner when they come for a visit, it is a nice change from the high school days when I would ask them what they wanted for dinner, their typical answer would be “I don’t know, you make whatever you want” so I would say okay I will make such and such and they would respond with “no, not in the mood for that”, after like five suggestions I would finally say “fine it will be a surprise,”.   

I am thankful that I will see my girls during our favorite holiday.  I am looking forward to hanging out in our pajamas and exchanging stories of our daily lives, of course they’ll do most of the talking and I’ll listened with joy in my heart.