Happy New Year's Eve

Year’s End

The stillness of evening
sinks
and settles ‘round me
like a gentle
threadbare cloak,
well used,
well loved.

The year is dying,
I feel it slip
shivering from my bones,
its days distilling
in my heart —
some so sweet
I smile and glow,
some bitter and stinging
like a wind of sleet.

When the dying comes,
when the moment of transition
shakes me,
can I look
to a new dawn?
Can I open
to a new day,
a new way?

Can I bury
an old grudge,
a recent hurt,
a jealousy,
a loss,
a fear
deep in earth’s darkness
and let the magic there
transform a thing of pain
into a thing of joy?

Can I plant a seed of peace,
cherish my effort
and watch an alchemy
of love push through?

May it be.

May the dying of this
well-worn solar year,
this cloak of time
be the birthing
of a shining sprout.
May the hopeful wings
of a new garment
unfurl in a morning
bright with possibility.

~ Rebekah Myers, “Year’s End”
copyright © by Rebekah Myers,
December 30, 2021

Art: Elaine Bayley
@bayley.elaineillustrations

Wishing for Snow

My sweet, sweet friend, Julie K., sent me this Churn Dash quilt that she made for me.  I was so surprised and absolutely delighted!!  Isn't it gorgeous?  And the kitties had to check it out right away.  They definitely approved.  Thank you more than words can express, Julie, for your kindness and generosity.  You are a beautiful soul.

We had snow showers yesterday.  It has been a long time since we've had any snow and I miss it.  I am such a kid about snow.  I had to go out in it, just HAD to!!  So I bundled up and took a walk in the swirling dancing snowflakes.  It was absolutely lovely!! I know it creates real difficulties for those who have to go out in it---to work or to check on someone, but selfishly I would love a big snow.  It's like it gives permission to curl up on the couch with a book and a blanket and spend the day, guilt-free.

I took another covid test yesterday evening since it's been almost 10 days.  It was positive.  I don't know what to think about that except that after the fun year of heart surgeries that I've had my immune system must be shot.  So I will continue to hibernate.  That is not a hardship for me.  I am such a hermit anyway, and I have hardly been out of the house this year except for doctors' appointments and walks on my street.  There are places I want to go, and people that I need/want to see, but hopefully there will be opportunities for those when we have warmer weather and I'm not so vulnerable to all of the viruses.  Speaking of viruses, they are all rampant here in my city, so again, it's not hard for me to choose to stay in.  I do need to get on Thriftbooks and order some more books.  

I am up to 9 minutes on my bike trainer, every other day, with very little resistance and at a snail's pace, but at least I'm on there.  It makes me feel like I'm making progress with healing from the surgeries.  Next week I will move up to 10 minutes.

Merry Christmas

 and Peace, goodwill, to All.

Christmas Eve

 

My thoughts go 'home' at Christmas and this Christmas Eve is filled with so many 'ghosts from Christmas' past'.  

Covid and Winter Solstice

My echocardiogram results from last week were really great.  It shows that my heart is healing beautifully, for which I am immensely grateful.  At the same time the nurse was giving me the results over the phone, she asked about my shortness of breath.  I thought it was just coming from CHF.  She said no, take a home Covid test-----and of course, in line with the rest of this lovely year, it was positive.  The doctor started me on Paxlovid this morning, and I really don't feel terribly bad, more like a bad head cold.  I didn't have any big plans for Christmas anyway, so I'll just laze through the holidays.

Our weather temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas are supposed to be too warm for Christmas to suit me.  Upper 50s to 60.  I'm a kid at Christmas always, and only want cold and snow.  None for me this year, though.  Right now it's a beautiful sunny day, high of 49.

December? Christmas?