While today is not generally a holiday I celebrate, it has been a lovely day just the same. Thank goodness, because it follows on the heels of a miserable evening, both from the torrential downpours of yesterday's weather, and the downpours of my soul. I have been sorrowful about many things locally, and they collapsed on me last night. Better left unsaid here, too.
But, when Crash woke me up early this afternoon, it was to a gorgeous, sunny day - blue skies, bare branches, birds singing in the crisp air - just a perfect, cold December day. We had opened presents just after he had returned home from playing at our church and at a Midnight Mass at one of the Catholic churches here in the city, and I was simply overwhelmed by the thought put into the gifts from my dad and stepmom. I feel so very, very blessed to have them both in my life. I looked at them again in the sunlight - especially the sparkly one - and just smiled all over inside and out. Later on, Crash and I watched UP - one of his gifts to me - and I cried in all the sappy parts (once again - as I knew I would). Crash had never seen it, and loved it - I am so glad. We scooted the easy chairs as close together as they would go and just held hands through the movie... it was just so gentle and sweet. :::smile::: It's been a good day.
Tomorrow starts the work of clearing the attic. Up and down and up and down the attic steps - which frighten me. I will be going to visit a local artisan first to see about some earrings, but then will come home and work, work, work. That attic is a nightmare.
Next week begins work on the dissertation in earnest; so much to be done on the Ghent paper, which requires a great deal of prep work on materials I already have in-house. So, a lot of data-entry for me beginning next week. But I am looking forward to learning more and more about this city and how it developed. So fascinating.
Not much else to say. Just happy about today and taking it easy.
Happy holidays to all - happy new year... happy anything you celebrate.
Celebrate yourself.
