Holiday Assembly

Just back from the final nursery school assembly of the fall. Third year in a row it made me cry. There is something about 84 children and assorted family members sitting on the floor in a big circle singing Jingle Bells that gets to me. That whole without-skin, passage-of-time thing. And the incredible innocence in the room. The looks on the parents’ faces as they sing the classic song. This year the yellow room sang This Little Light of Mine and that just slayed me – all I could think about was what I can do to make sure Gracie DOES take her light around the world, how do I help her be proud and strong and confident and humble. Ay carumba.

And, Providence rears its head. Stay tuned.

And, finally, 3pm champagne with the ladies – will have some stories and pictures for sure.

More to come, but for now an addition to the Museum of Hilarious Commentary by Gracie:

Walking home from the Somerset this afternoon, I was having a tricky time with my heels on the cobblestones. Grace wanted to run and finally I had to say to her, “I can’t go as fast as you can, Grace.” To which she replies, completely guilelessly: “You’re slow because you’re a mummy, and you’re a little bit old, right?”

Addendum:

1 camera found (by the lovely Cambridge Skating Club folks)
17 days until 12/28, when I get to see Jessica!

Guess it’s been a slow week!
Updates:
1 camera lost (along with pictures of Grace’s first skating lesson)
1 Christmas tree decorated in our living room
0 job offers
1 private school application down
2 private school applications to go
5 days of school until winter break
250 Christmas cards addressed and put into mailbox this afternoon
1 screaming, whining male toddler for sale (v. cute)


Tell me whom you love and I will tell you who you are. – Arsene Housssaye

Grey’s Anatomy is beginning to bore me with its incredibly self-conscious profundity. There are occasional evenings, though, when I’m in that kind of mood and the voiceovers make me think. Last night’s commentary about who we truly love, who we choose to be close to, fell upon such open ears. I spent today pinwheeling through those I love most dearly; thinking about people from all the various phases of my life. Christmas cards put me in this frame of mind as well. I love seeing pictures and reading notes from people I haven’t heard from in months or years, and equally love sending our missives out into the world to reconnect with people I love and have lost touch with.
What a mixed and marvelous group it was who occupied my thoughts today! I’ve been deeply blessed by the individuals that life has brought me. The true native speakers are a very small crowd, and you know who you are.
Here we are, heading towards the solstice, my most contemplative time of the year. I’ll quote it in its entirety on the 21st, but for now, two passages from Adrienne Rich’s poem Towards the Solstice, one of my very favorites.

I am trying to hold in one steady glance/All the parts of my life.

We are moving towards the solstice/And there is still so much here/I do not understand.

The solstice, the rain, thoughts of those dear from years past and from today. Going to bed on this rainy dark Friday night, love to all who travel with me.