Monday Morning Musings:
My mother says,
That one year my sister and I received
Presents and celebrated
For nearly two months.
In the days before Amazon
And same and next day deliveries,
I suppose packages took longer to arrive.
So they came in trickles and waves
Over the course of weeks
To mingle with those already at home.
The season of celebration
Began with my sister’s birthday
In November.
Then went on
To Thanksgiving,
Followed by
My birthday,
Hanukkah,
And Christmas–
The festivities went on and on,
Or so it seemed to us.
Then one day it stopped.
We asked,
“What no presents today? No holiday?”
I don’t remember this at all.
But that is what my mother says.
And though her memory is sometimes
A bit faulty
I suspect it’s true.
It may have been the year my aunt sent us
The Easy Bake Oven.
I made a few of those cookie-size cakes,
The oven set-up in our bedroom
Novelty there,
But, truthfully,
I was much more interested in
The real oven and stove.
I “doctored” canned soups
With spices from the rack
Before I tackled real meals
And baking.
I remember misreading “marjoram”
And thinking it said “marijuana.”
Well, that would have been interesting, right?
I’m not even certain how I knew the word.
This was before the War on Drugs.
And our schools were more concerned
That we “duck and cover,”
Giving me vague terrors
And fears
Of losing my parents.
Cold War fears
Of losing the warmth
Of family and home.
Is that what draws me
To the heat of the kitchen?
Now, that I’m older
I like to think each day is a gift,
Something to unwrap joyfully
With the dawn.
Of course, the dawn is so late in December.
Perhaps that’s why I bought myself a new laptop
For my birthday
And perhaps to chase away the coming
Winter chill
And fears of the future.
Well, it’s for my business, you know,
Even my husband agreed.
My old computer is only old in
Computer years,
Which pass faster than dog years,
But still,
They’re the ones that count–
To the computer–
And the person using it.
I haven’t spent months celebrating,
Well, not unless you count the weddings,
Three in about a years’ time,
But I did manage a week or so—
Hanukkah running into to my birthday,
Celebrating with dinner at a local winery,
Then the next night dinner with my daughter and son-in-law
Followed by chocolate cake and watching my grandpets
Chase each other around the apartment.
Brothers of other mothers for sure.
The next day there was a trip to Grounds for Sculpture
Just hanging out
Enjoying nature on a
Freakishly warm December day.
Standing at a bread line
Having a snack
Dancing a waltz
Maybe reading a book with a friend
Enjoying lunch in the balmy weather
Returning home to light the candles
The final night
Till next year.
On my actual birthday
We went to the movies,
The Danish Girl
Me wondering how strange
And horrible
It must be
To feel like someone else inside,
And how sad but
Beautiful and brave
It was to love that person–
And to believe.
My husband and I discussed this
Over tapas and drinks afterward
(The Spinach and Manchego Buñuelos divine)
Because,
Well, celebration, remember?
And from birthday
We’re on to
Cookie-baking season
That is, not the usual cooking baking
That happens all the time here.
Special, once-a-year cookies.
And decorating them with our younger daughter
And missing our older one.
We will have to eat her share,
I suppose.
It will soon be Christmas.
The skies are dark, dismal, and dreary
The news is ghastly, glum and, gloomy,
But there is warmth and light.
Our own little miracle of lights.
The light on the stove hood–
You know, the one that hasn’t worked
For months?
Well, now it does
Just like that.
More lights are glowing
At windows
On trees,
And in hearts
That are open to it.
Soon the New Year will come
With new dreams
And old memories.
Wishing all of you a joyous and happy December-
And beyond.
With hopes that it is not too warm
Or too cold
But, just right.
Places we visited and things we saw:
And here’s a 1951 Civil Defense Duck and Cover Film. It would have terrified me, as a child. It’s before my time, but we were still ducking and covering in the 1960s.
You guys are such hams, a metaphor at once apt and inappropriate unless you actually do eat ham in your household. 🙂 Even the pets get into the action, possibly knowing about your rise to stardom on Buzzfeed. (You know how mysterious and knowing cats and some dogs are.)
Lovely post, including the alfresco dining!
Thanks, Marian. My husband eats ham–no worries. 🙂
Those are my daughter’s pets, but perhaps they know of my fame. Hahaha. I was looking for one of her cat in a Christmas outfit, but I couldn’t find it.
“The news is ghastly, glum and, gloomy,
But there is warmth and light.” Thanks for sharing your own Christmas light; always a treat.
Awww–thanks so much, Janet!
Merrill, I enjoyed reading your Monday Morning Muse. In and out of memories. Current desires. Love at the center of it all. Well done.
Thank you, Bruce, and thank you for letting me know!
Your muse is bold softness. Daring and gentle.
WOW! Thank you so much!
Love it, Merril, you capture the essence of life so well.
Thank you, Cindy!
Lots of warmth and light here, in this post. Duck and cover. I remember that well. You are a wonderful chef with words, cooking up a mix of all kinds of slices of life in your musings. Happy Holidays, Merril. 🙂
Thanks, Robin. Your comment is so sweet. I love how you expressed it. You are quite a chef with words, as well!
Thank you, Merril. Your good wishes are reciprocated
Thank you, Derrick!
You’re right – each day is a gift. Your posts are a gift, thank you Merril. May your festive season glow with all the candles and cookies … and the food of course 🙂
Thank you, Susan. How kind you are! Working on more cookie baking today. 😉
Thanks for taking me through your time, Merril! I love all your menorahs–is there one for each family member? And the cookies look yummy!!! Happy everything to you and your loved ones!!! xoxo
You’re welcome, Luanne. There are actually more menorahs than family members. I just think they’re pretty, and I’ve received some as gifts. There’s also a small doll size one that we first got for the girls, but it’s difficult to put candles in and light. I don’t know if you can see it in the photo. Happy everything to you to you and yours, too!
We have a doll one, too! I can’t remember if it was from American Girl or Gali girls. It came with gelt, I think.
Thanks, Merril!
We got ours before American Girls, I think. I can’t remember where I got it.
Merril – Your supporting photos are exceptional. I had a face-splitting grin all the way through!
I’m glad I made you smile. You would love Grounds for Sculpture.
I may be late, but today is a great day to read this post because I appreciate your ecumenical spirit. … and a belated toast to your birthday with wine … well, it’s noon somewhere! Merry Christmas.
Thanks so much, Frank! I appreciate your good wishes. We had wine yesterday and my niece’s Christmas Eve brunch–it was after noon. 🙂
Wonderful!
Thank you for that second Christmas/Solstice/end-of-year celebration 🙂
You’re welcome, Jane. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I am also coming along after Christmas trying to catch up on blogging during this wonderful gap between Christmas & New Year. Although we’ve been doing work around the house, we’ve also had a lot of time out as well. It’s great to be in the slow lane for a change.
I loved all your photos and that Sculpture place looks great. We have a place in the Hunter Valley called Hunter Valley Gardens. I’ve been wanting to take my kids there for awhile and I might take my daughter while our son is at Scout camp. Here’s the link: http://www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/
I also love your Grandparents and your comment that they have different Mums. They’re both beautiful. My brother has lured the cat in from across the road aided and abetted by my Mum. The neighbours were quite pleased as their daughter had moved out and the cat was left alone. He’s a rather moody and quirky cat, much like my brother. I suspect they’re two kindred spirits who’ve found each other xx Ro
Thanks, Rowena. Grounds for Sculpture was really great. We had never been there before, and I guess since it was December, but before Christmas, it wasn’t crowded, despite the 70 degree temperature. I was confused by your remark about grandparents, until I realized that you must have meant my “grandpets.” 🙂
Did the woman move out and leave her cat? (Awful!) Or was it a stray she was feeding? Either way, I’m glad your brother the cat have found each other. I never thought I’d be a crazy cat woman, but I love our little guys! And they are super-affectionate.