Maggie as Elf, Maggie Shayne

Cick the link above. I elfed myself! Now if that goesn't get you into the holiday spirit, I don't know what will. Honestly, Maggie the dancing elf has to do it, right?

How are you all? I am still not finished shopping. One tough-to-buy-for daughter has me at my wit's end, but I hope to finish up today with some great new ideas. Most of my shopping was done online, and nearly everything has arrived on time! That's a first for me with online shopping. Most years, delays in shipping have me pulling my hair out. It's definitely getting better.

I bought myself a present, and it's a guilty pleasure. I was at a friend's when her daughter pulled out a Sony Playstation and a game called Dance, Dance Revolution. DDR for short. It works with an electronic mat on the floor, and the player has to keep up with the dance steps on the screen. I played it at my friend's house, along with other adults, until we were all laughing so hard we nearly split a gut. So this week, I bought it for myself! I seem to have a dance theme going, between the elf and the DDR game! I can't get past the beginner level, but then, I've only used it twice so far. It does make for a great workout, though!

I also bought myself an air hockey table, so when the kids come to visit, we'll have plenty of entertainment and fun.

My youngest is home for the holidays, and will be house hopping between her sisters, her dad and me, but while she's here I hope we can do some bigtime wedding planning. We have invitations to order, a DJ to book, and a caterer to talk to. The date is May 25th, and she only just decided to hold the wedding here in upstate NY rather than in North Carolina where she's living. It'll make for a much bigger and more relaxed wedding party, I can tell you that.

So it's going to be a very busy week.

However, today, the day I'm posting this, is a special day for a lot of people. It's the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. And for those who observe it, it's a time to NOT be busy. It's a time for deep reflection and inner contemplation. On this night, I tend to think back on what the year has brought me, to journal about it and meditate on it. Then I write down all the things I need to let go of, to make room in my life for new things to come. I take all the slips of paper I've written on, and burn them in a cauldron at midnight, giving them over to the darkness. As the night wears on and dawn arrives, that moment when, symbolically, the sun is reborn and life triumphs over death, my focus changes to what I need to bring into my life in the coming year. It's not time yet for action, but for planning, thinking, jotting down ideas and preparing. Life starts over at the Winter Solstice. It's like that old ad campaign for Total cereal. "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." That's dawn after the solstice for me. Unlike the bustle and hustle of Christmas, Solstice is, for me, deeply personal and very meaningful. Maybe this year more than any other.

May you have a deep and powerful Winter Solstice, and a wonderful and happy Christmas!

Next time we'll discuss the new year!
Enjoy the elf dance!
Maggie