Tis the season to get together with friends, eat all sorts of yummy treats, and make every attempt to insure that Santa knows that your name should not be on the naughty list
Archives for December 2011
gifting — in memory
It has been 5 years since we were a family of 5 for Christmas. Five years! Sort of baffles my mind that it has been that long — yet baffles my mind that it’s only been that long. I mean, there’s been a lot happenings since then. My life has found a new norm and we’ve found a way around the holidays, albeit a few days late and many dollars short.
YaYa and I are spending Christmas day away from home and, unlike a couple of years ago, I’m not breaking down in tears. Actually, I’m excited.
We’re spending Christmas with my love’s loving and wonderfully welcoming family. I’ve been seeing many photos of tamales being prepared for the special occasion all over Facebook. A few days later, BoBo flies home and we’ll celebrate our own family Christmas. The morning we’ll do our present exchange, brunch, and family bonding. A bit later in the day, my siblings and parents will join us.
Because it’s been 5 years (or maybe just because it came into my mind), each boy will receive 1 gift in memory of their father. YaYa will get a watch just like the one his dad wore (his father’s watch is broken), BoBo will get 3 meditation CDs that his dad used to force him to listen to (because I was urged to give them to him), and DD will get a memory box with a photo of father & son and a poem his dad wrote about him when he was raising him alone. I hope and pray that each growing boy will gain something positive from the gift I’ve chosen to share with them.
Pomegranate Martinis
1.5 cups of pomegranate juice
2 ounces absolute citron vodka (or white tequila)
1 ounce contreau liquor
1 cup of ice
2 old friends
Mix well. Laugh, love, and catch up on each others lives.
60:60
During last night’s class, one of my yoga instructors gave us a challenge to be ever present and joyful – particularly upon waking — for 30 days. Although my practice that night was “off,” at the time, the challenge seemed more than doable. This was vastly different from the upcoming challenge that she is putting out for the month of January. I figured that it couldn’t hurt to try to accomplish the goal of joyful presence. Even if I fail at hitting it every moment of every day for 30 straight days, I will still enjoy the success of trying.
Interestingly enough, I woke this morning with this challenge being the farthest from my awareness possible. Yet, somehow, I was successful in waking in an ever-present and joyful state – even in the darkness of December morning.
Choosing to be more present and joyful is something to which we are accountable to only ourselves. The January challenge is a bit more “official” AND challenging. Commit to doing 60 classes in a 60 day time period. It sounds nearly impossible and yet, I wonder what would happen if I actually tried to do it.
I’m not sure if I want to officially commit or take on the challenge unofficially. I honestly don’t know how I could manage to make it to the studio 60 times in 60 days. But if I was committed to doing either a class (yoga or meditation) in-studio OR 60 minutes of at-home practice, I could see that being within the realm of possibilities (though not easily accomplished). Unofficial participation won’t qualify me for any monetary rewards but the ways this commitment would benefit me spiritually, mentally, and physically most certainly would be HUGE. I might just have to take it on.
10th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Run
You may remember that every year, since the kick off of my 1st marathon, a group of my running friends don Santa hats and hit the bike path with the intention of spreading a little holiday cheer. The yearly happening is a great excuse to carve out some time for old friends amid the busy holiday season. We run, catch up on each other’s lives, bid passersby a Merry Christmas, and finish off with coffee and breakfast.
Referred to as the Ho-Ho-Ho Run, this year marks our 10th year running.