Winter Obsessions

Most of my December was spent making our first west coast Christmas perfect. I sent out close to a 100 holiday cards with cheery notes which I wrote while listening to nothing but Christmas music. Santa’s were on display all over our new home, lights were strung and lit. We fully engaged ourselves in all the festivities, shopping and cooking and baking, while wearing silly hats. As you might have guessed from this idyllic opening the holiday could not live up to my hype. But it did not stop my push to make our New Year’s eve filled with all the garnishes I could throw at it. Yes, lesson not learned. Thankfully sense and sensibility did surface, eventually, to the realization that we were indeed somewhere new, and quite possibly, I could slow down, take a breath and notice all the possibilities in this here.

cactus in bloom

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How it Started…How it’s Going

Moving 3,000 miles East to West was quite an undertaking which took months to prep for and carry out, but our first visitor made the whole ordeal make sense. Jackie D, just passing the threshold of two is filled with excitement for adventure, and we consider ourselves beyond blessed to witness his discoveries. Within the shortest amount of time, he granted us new monikers, Amma and Nai Nai, and with ease delighted us with his chuckles and quirks. Being two, he is also on the ready to tell us what he doesn’t want too and that is fine with us because we are here to learn all he wants to become.

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A Soapbox, the Smoke and Mirrors game, and just Living

Open Facebook on any given day and you will find someone, particularly unqualified, posting or most likely reposting, an opinion or article or tirade that they are momentarily passionate or incensed or preaching about. The decade of social media platforms open to just about everyone has given way to just about everyone pulling out their soapbox and proselytizing their viewpoint. I am not immune from this behavior, as is well documented through my blog, I too have voiced over-zealous opinions from time to time. But I am not speaking of personal posts where no one should mistake my vantage from science or fact; I am referring to those who dig up some unreferenced study and pronounce it as truth, or those who announce they have uncovered some injustice that only they, and the undocumented thread they followed, know about. This behavior makes all of Facebook a dangerous and misguided place instead of a platform to share photos and celebrations with friends and family. What is it that makes people want to preach? Throw in the smoke and mirrors that shift and trick every angle shot and you really have to struggle to stay in your own lane and ride your own joy in life. But that is what I do intend to do, just focus on the day to day living and use my voice to sing a tune that is original.

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