Brrr

 

 

Yep, it's cold here too. Very cold, but it's nice and toasty at Casa Wags and for the next couple weeks we have four cats and two laps so all the more reason to hole up at home. It's no secret that I'm perfectly content to lean into the dark, quiet January days. This month has been a lesson in patience and acceptance and rumination. I needed them all and now I feel prepared for the next eleven months. 

When I just wrote this, my head was filled with flash forward flickers. All the cliches about time apply. People say them ad nauseam for good reason. It strikes me that each year seems to gain momentum when it feels like I'm losing time. And when...not if...I feel like the world is moving too fast, I'll think of January's short days, long sleeps, more often than not a pot of soup simmering on the stove, Uggs all the time, rekindling my love of a good book, peacefully free of obligations, opting for day dates so we can be home before dark, Netflix nights...mornings too, afternoon cocoa or tea, cat naps as desired, a deck of cards always on the island for a quick game of solitaire or Gin, a renewed focus on self-care and commitment to healthier routines, time and space for deep cleansing breaths and a gentle reminder to be.here.now.

It's the way I try and live my life: in the moment, present, with open eyes and a grateful heart. That doesn't mean I won't live vicariously the next couple weeks as Ted and Meryl travel through India. They arrived is Delhi yesterday and are in Udaipur for the next few days. I've already received photos and a video. They look refreshed and so very happy to be on an adventure.

Our January trip was to Madison to deliver Lils for her last semester of college. The house is especially quiet now with her back at school. I remember senior spring semester as a bit of a blur. It goes so fast. Lily has said that she's ready and excited for what's next, but I know that that one day she will look back longingly on the freedom being a student allows. I'll live by proxy through her exciting milestones too because the most stirring things on my agenda are what kind of soup to make (beef barley today), which wool sweater to pull out of the cedar closet (long fisherman's knit), how to entertain four needy felines and what to read before bed.