Top 10 Tuesday

Hope you're doing well.

(Wrote the above sentence and then spent...about 35 minutes wondering what else I should say. I have nothing, I thought to myself and then realized that I wanted to say one more thing: Hope you're doing well. Because, really, what more can you wish for a person?)

1. Swimming--It's winter. The slow and cold of it is here. As I type this, my dogs are snoozing on the couch next to me. The early-setting sun shortens my hikes to simple jaunts. It's not enough to get my blood moving or my mind cleared. I took to swimming a little while ago to make up for the lack of heart-pound and salt. I can take my time or swim like there's a piranha at my toes, but I always get in the minimum of 30 laps. Sometimes I do 70 (about a mile). It has been very cathartic for me. I swim, gaze out the wall of windows near the pool, and get into the hot whirlpool afterwards. I'm very grateful that an old cement hole of tepid, gross water is there for me and my mind hahaha.

2. Writing Christmas Cards--Speaking of cathartic, I have been enjoying writing Christmas cards to my little world of people. It's so very important for people to know that they are important in some way. One of my favorite things to do is make people happy. That sounded dumb to me as I typed it, but it's true. I love making people feel good about themselves because dammit, people forget just how unique and important they are. I typically write throughout the whole year to people who are special or interesting to me. I want to keep smart, interesting, wonderful people in my life, no matter how well I know them.

3. Josh Ritter--I purchased tickets to see Josh Ritter perform! Years ago, I saw him perform in the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg. I actually ran into him on the street corner during the Antique Festival. It was one of the most "swoon" days of my life. Anyway, I am thrilled to be going to this concert because it's not your average concert that debuts music from a new album, etc. He knows how luminous some of his songs are and he wants to put on a special concert to celebrate his slower, more inspired narratives. On top of that, he wants for the venues to be unique, sacred places that will complement his narrative songs. Not only am I going to his concert, but I'm going with friends who will appreciate it just as much as I will. I'm excited. I haven't been to a concert in a long time.

And here is a song that I love by him that I hope he performs. It is called "Wings".

4. Brian Playing Santa--I know Brian loves me. When I asked if he'd play Santa for a little home of people with intellectual disabilities, he enthusiastically agreed to do it. He has his own suit and he successfully delivered gifts to three people who are special to me. It was fun.

5. Mom & Dad's Tree Trimming Party--I was always sort of taken aback when people would talk about trimming their trees when they "get the spare time" as if it's a chore that needs to be done or like it's no big deal. I grew up with it being a big deal; in fact, in my family, trimming the tree is worthy of a party more outgoing and special than actual Christmas day (in my own non-religious opinion). My parents have always thrown a party, inviting everyone over to enjoy food and beverage and music as we decorated the trees with special ornaments that weren't simply purchased to decorate a tree, but purchased because they were meaningful. Some of those ornaments have been passed down to me and they now adorn my tree in my own home. Some of them are older than I am. It was a major event to rummage through my sister's ornaments when she was still alive. She wanted for me to choose some of her ornaments to keep before she passed away not longer after. This year, the party was especially wonderful because it was the second time my parents and Brian's parents spent time together (our parents live on opposite sides of the state). But it was wonderful for so many other reasons, too. It was a fun time and I appreciate everyone who attended. I also appreciate my coworkers who knew it was a special day for me and helped to ensure that things went smoothly at work (I'm on-call at all times). I'm very grateful.

6. Lang's Little Terrors--My wonderful spider of a friend, Jeannette, is a weaver of words and fabric. I love her dearly. She makes gorgeous and weirdly inspired treasures and you should check her out on Facebook (Lang's Little Terrors). She had her son design an outfit that he wanted and she knitted it (and it has pockets)! Not only is it amazingly unique and precious, but wow, what a wonderful idea to empower children's imaginations. Go love her as much as I do.

7. Virtual Nature--While driving home from my parents this past weekend, I told Brian that I was in the mood to watch "Fantasia". While thinking about "Fantasia", it reminded me of another musical story-telling I watched as a child. It was a VHS called "Virtual Nature". It is a computer-generated odyssey through time that displays the wonders of nature, from gazing into the abyss of space to gazing into a beehive at drones hard at work. I found it on YouTube that same evening and revisited all 37 minutes of it. Here you go:

8. Getting Our Christmas Tree--I always grew up with a real tree but as a family, we always purchased pre-cut trees. My first experience cutting down a Christmas tree was with Brian and we have continued it through our years together. As we walked the fields to find the tree, the gusts of wind were especially cold and harsh. We entered a grove of trees and one of them was really dancing in it. We were drawn to our tree immediately. Looking closely at its branches, we could tell that it was unique because they were wind-whipped to the point of growing in all different directions. Brian started cutting it down and then I took over and finished the job. We put it up and decorated it the same night while watching "Muppet Christmas Carol", one of our favorite Christmas movies.

9. Snow Fog--I think it is also called "freezing fog". Anyway, on Monday I came home and looked at the mountain that I can see from my doorstep. It's the mountain I often hike. I couldn't see it for it was veiled in white so I almost reconsidered going hiking with Silas. I'm glad I changed my mind because it turns out that the white veil wasn't snow, but fog. It was a gorgeous hike and of course Silas had a great time. He loves snow and this marks the beginning of our fourth winter together.

10. One thing at a time--I was briefly talking with my boss about how much I struggle to sit and do one thing for a period of time, especially at work. Most people are pulled in many different directions at work. Only in an almost impossibly ideal world would slowing down or focus on doing one thing at a time be a mandatory paradigm adopted by businesses. It's something you need to practice on your own. It's something I want to try to do both at work and in my personal life.