Snow Day.
January 19, 2009
I awoke to the most breath taking view from my bedroom window today. Freshly fallen snow rested heavily on the branches below. Despite my longing for sunshine and warmth, winter has staked its claim and the beauty of this day was undeniable.
Home for the Holidays.
January 9, 2009
I hadn’t seen my family in a year… I missed them dearly. So much, that I booked my trip home for 12 days. 12 DAYS! What was I possibly thinking?!
It was bitterly cold so we were forced to hibernate in our living room, where my family launched into repetitious babble, each talking over one another, to the point where you realize that no one was listening to each other in the first place! I listened, mute by choice, exhausted by my futile attempts to chime in… as they continued to talk at one another. And so it went… for 8 days.
The last 4 where filled with the energy and excitement Christmas is supposed to bring, as well as the sorrow and indescribable loss that binds our family. It’s a particularly difficult time of year for us all, as we are each still grappling with my brother’s death in our own ways. I stayed with my sister-in-law (his wife), and my two adorable nephews, now ages 3 and 5. It’s bittersweet in a way, to see the life inside of them and feel my brother’s presence, as we mourn his loss.
All in all, 12 days is too long of a visit for me to swallow without my brother… he was the only one I could really talk to. We used to retreat to our own prospective corner of the house and laugh hystarically about mostly anything. He got me; we got each other… man I miss him. Family gatherings are just not the same anymore, not without my partner in crime.
Despite how annoying my family can be, the one thing I’ve learned through all this is to cherish the time you have together. Perhaps it’s not the length of time that matters, but rather the frequency and quality of time we share together. I regret not having made the effort to go home more when my brother was alive. I miss him every day, and I’m afraid now and I’ve missed too many days of the family I have left. It’s hard to face them alone, but maybe in small doses, I can feel better about our time together.
Slippery Slope!
January 8, 2009
After a day of rain filled the roads with slush and muck, ice eventually sealed the ground as evening took hold. Ice coated the sidewalks with a soft glaze, making for deceivingly slick travels for those that braved the journey. Living on top of a very steep and long hill, I have more than once embarrassed myself by sledding downhill on my bottom!
Today was the kind of day, where most of us chucked our pride at the door. One by one I watched as people naively attempted to maneuver the sidewalks with overzealous confidence. Most took a tumble or two before they resorted to slowly dragging their feet along the sidewalk, looking like little kids that just learned how to skate!
Thankfully this year I’ve discovered YakTraxs! These inexpensive, rubber soles stretch to fit on the bottoms of any pair of shoes or boots, and are wrapped with metal coils to grip the ice. So today, I felt confident with my new treads digging into the ice, strolling up (and down) the sidewalks with ease (dignity preserved)!
