We just went and got our COVID jabs. When we first started getting them, I would have a reaction afterwards. It wasn't serious, but I would lose an evening with a headache, shivers, stuffy head, etc. Then after about the third one I had muscle pain in my arm for at least a year afterwards. Then we moved and the next one I had was a different vaccine and it was fine--no reaction at all except a slight soreness in my arm. I haven't had any issues since so I'm hoping that continues.
Thanksgiving is the one US holiday that we've continued to celebrate in Ireland. I mean, I know other countries have Thanksgiving holidays but we continue to celebrate on the US date. I've always loved Thanksgiving. Years ago I used to spend days preparing all the food. Sometimes it was just our small family and sometimes friends joined us but I loved having the leftovers so it didn't matter how many people were with us. Even though I don't prepare as much as I used to, I still make enough for a few days' worth of leftovers. But beyond the food, I love the vibe. It feels like a holiday to me even though here it's just another Thursday in November. As we were leaving the library on Thursday after the yarn group meeting, someone said, 'See you next week!' I said I didn't think I'd be coming because it's Thanksgiving. She said to just make stuff ahead of time and attend. Another woman asked if Thanksgiving is bigger than Christmas in the US. I said it was kind of the kick-off to the shopping frenzy that is Christmas. But I got to thinking about her comment and realized that for me, it is bigger than Christmas. I aways find Christmas kind of bittersweet because it's nearing the end of my favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving, apart from the actual giving of thanks, which is important, is just a joy to me. I love putting on Christmas music and preparing the food. The smell of stuffing as it cooks is much more a sign of the holidays to me than those awful fake cinnamon-scented pine cones and other yucky smells. As I was considering preparing some things early and heading off to the yarn group, I knew that I would feel rushed throughout the day and it wouldn't feel like a special day if I did that. It would feel like any other Thursday--which of course it is here. I did think, 'Well, I'm here now and maybe I should just consider it Thursday with a more involved meal than usual.' But then I thought, 'No. I love this holiday and I'd be sad to miss it--and I'd regret it later.' So I'll be staying home and having Thanksgiving in my own quiet way.
Recently, a friend was telling me that while she likes aspects of Christmas--she has a small tree and likes some of the music--her big day of celebration is the winter solstice. She loves knowing the light is coming back. This is the same reason why I have a tinge of sadness on that day--because I know the light is coming back. Yesterday I glanced out the window at about a quarter past 4. It was just starting to get dark. The cars had their headlights on. I felt a familiar peace descend upon me. I stopped to experience and enjoy it. There's something about that light at this time of year that just fills me with a calm joy. In that moment it dawned on me that the way my friend feels about the solstice is the way I feel about the day we move the clocks back. There's a short window of time between that day (which happens at the end of October here) and the winter solstice when the dark arrives early. It's the time of year I look forward to with great eagerness. It doesn't take long for us to start gaining daylight at a fair clip and every year I know that it won't be long before I'm smiling and nodding politely to people who are gushing about the 'grand stretch in the evening.' I'm savoring these short days and long dark nights while I have them.
I hope that whatever your day involves, you find moments of calm joy and inner peace, too.
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