Survived rail/subway transfers at rush hour. Learning that New Yorkers don’t move out of the way–not in the market, not on the sidewalk, not so you can push the buttons in the elevator. A gross exaggeration to be sure, but I’m trying to figure out how to navigate like the locals do…We’re situated just a few blocks from Times Square, from MOMA, from Rockefeller Center.
This is fun, people.
Had a great “Christmas” this morning, which included the Gift Which Will Never be Rivaled(TM).
As we travel for the next few weeks, I’ll update this blog irregularly, so feel free to follow our pilgrimage via flickr and twittr. :)
Happy Holidays, everyone. Thank you, each of you, for the goodness of this past year and for the many ways you make my life more rich and meaningful.
Reblogged from 2 years ago…
Setting: evening at our house. The front door is open because it’s stuffy inside the house from cooking dinner. GameBoy and CatGirl are sitting at their desk in the living room working on their homework. Christmas carols are playing on the stereo. Our brightly lit Christmas tree is visible from the front doorway. A guy in a brown uniform is walking up the pathway to our place.
UPS Guy: Ma’am? Your package broke open in the truck, the tape is undone on one side now. Can I bring it on in for you? It’s really big…
Me: Sure, put it right here in front of the bookcase.
UPS Guy: Someone’s sure lucky to be getting a —–.
Me: Shhhhh….(gesturing wildly towards the kids)
A deep intake of breath from one of the kids, a squeal of delight from the other.
UPS Guy: Uh oh.
Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach
Undoubtedly, I will not live up to every expectation that I’ve set up for myself for this holiday season. Some gifts may be late, some may not please the recipient as much as I’d hoped, some important details might be neglected.
As we settle into the last hours before we leave on our trip and I realize all of the items on the ‘to-do’ list will not be checked off, I am panicking a bit. How to prioritize? What must be done now and what can wait? Have I prepared well? Will we at least be safe and ready for any contingencies that might arise?
And most importantly, can I relax and enjoy myself, without concerns about what might be left undone?
Our first date was just over 19 years ago (December 14, 1989). John and I have grown up with each other, having spent more than half of our lives together now, in many ways seeming more like siblings than lovers…Sometimes I wonder what I saw in him then that told me he would continue to hold my attention even after all these years.
I’ve loved him as I have loved no other. It is he who taught me the true meaning of hope.
I have been overcome by the beauty and richness of our life together, those early mornings setting out, those evenings gleaming with rivers and lakes below us, still holding the last light.
~Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea.
~Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Pic above is from our family jaunt out to the beach last weekend at sunset as a storm was rolling in on the far horizon. Yesterday I also enjoyed a ‘gift from the sea’ as I went outrigger canoeing on the Back Bay with a friend. Though my paddling style may have been lacking a bit (it was my first time trying to paddle in that particular manner and I ended up inadvertently dousing my friend more than once when my paddle hit the water at the wrong angle), I loved how smooth and easy it felt to be on the water. A gift, indeed.
Our family visited the Isle of Man about 8 years ago and it was a sublime (despite having various dramas with British Airways–ugh) vacation. One of our favorite spots were the ruins of Peel Castle (pictured above), a space where my ancestors had certainly walked the halls many generations ago. For me, traveling is magical–especially when I can reconnect with the past in a meaningful way, or just let the beauty of a new place wash over me and fill me up with new sensations.
I can’t wait to return to the IOM someday, but in the meantime I’m dreaming of trips to new places (specifically, my East coast trip starting next week!) to fill me with their wonder.
Speaking of traveling…if you’re in NYC or DC and you want to meetup over the holidays, let me know ASAP. Also, if you’ll be at the AHA conference, let’s definitely touch base at some point during the proceedings. :)
