holidays

Christmas ayem

And today is Ruca's birthday

the sacred and the profane

On Christmas Eve

dear diary

YYesterday she made a list of what she had to do before getting in the car to come to New York. Once int he car, she began her report. Now she is making a list of things to do while in New York.
  It's a busy life. I can't even get it together to do my blog.

Elves arrive

With bells on! Merry mayhem!

happy solstice!

Katie's roses

I know I have promised my morose Christmas letter. I should have done it today, the longest day of the year and the day I feel most morose. But I am burning candles to bring back the sun and feeling hopeful, so, I dunno, maybe I'll do a morose year-end wrapup. Hannah et al arrive tomorrow so may not do much in the coming days—and may not feel morose—but I'll try to pull it out of the oven.

merry making

 A real Christmas miracle happened as Barbara and I started to carry the tree home. My super—after he'd already gotten his annual Christmas tip, mind you—offered to take the tree home in his car. Which he did, with good spirit, so all we had to do was put the tree in the elevator et voila!
   Then we made the eggnog, and Ed came over and made Irish (of course) stew and then people came over to eat and drink and talk story and play music and generally make merry. Around the festive tree—and Christmas Peeps.

christmastide

Deck the lions with neck wreaths.

Deck the child with elf pjs.

What child is this who now has her own email address?
(We'll see if she can still use it readily once Net Neutrality is done.)

They all arrive on Friday, and let the joy begin!

we love art

 Kate Knapp's closing show at The Open Center took place in a hallway between an aromatherapy workshop and a presentation about how to find your intuition. Maybe appropriate given the fact that many of Katie's paintings are florals and all are guided by her intuitive sense of color. The few devotees of her art who showed up at rush hour in holiday season New York were wowed by what they saw.

tonight

Kate Knapp's show closing party. At the Open Center, 22 E 30th. Five to seven tonight. Be there!

at 67

Best birthday cards ever! (Also Hanukkah and Xmas)

They say it's my birthday.
Got a gift last night when sweet home Alabama went for a Democrat for the first time since—

I am planning a very special day today.
 I will do the wash.
I will pay bills.
I will fix the toilet seat.
Is that enough?

Self-check selfie at 67.

don't lean on me

I woke up from the dream laughing. In the dream I had been singing karaoke to Bill Withers' song  Lean on Me, but inverted it (a la ego rock) to Don't Lean on Me. It went something like this:

 Don't lean on me, when you're not strong
 I won't be your friend, won't help you carry on
 It won't be long til you're gonna need somebody to lean on.
Refrain
Don't call on me brother, when you need a hand
(You always need somebody to lean on)
etc.

Cracked me up! The last time I woke up laughing from a song I'd revised in a dream was The Boxtops' The Letter:
Get me a ticket for an aeroplane. Don't have time to take a fast train.
Lonely days are gone, I'm a goin' home
My baby knit me a sweater

the christmas letter

Don't the tootsies get cold? And the tushie? 79th and Broadway

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I love getting Christmas letters. Lately, however, they have been getting increasingly odd—kind of the opposite of Facebook. I have therefore made a template for those of you who wish to send one out. It’s not too late!

   In a coming post I will present my own, which would be a doozie this year! Let me just say that I was NOT blown up by a suicide bomber today! Good news for the holidays!

Dear Friends and Family,

    (SEASON’S GREETINGS/MERRY CHRISTMAS)! It has been quite a year! We took some great trips to (PLACE) and (PLACE) back in (MONTH) before (NAME) was diagnosed with (DISEASE). Ever since it has been doctors and tests and (TYPE SURGERY). I have had my problems as well with my (KNEE/BACK/OTHER BODY PART). The (TYPE THERAPY) seems to be working, when I have time to do it what with driving (NAME) to (HIS/HER) appointments every week.

    The kids are good. (SON/DAUGHTER) had their (FIRST/SECOND/OTHER NUMBER) child. (HE/SHE) weighed (POUNDS/OUNCES) and is called (NAME), after (WHAT RELATION). (SON/DAUGHTER) and (HIS/HER/THEIR) (SPOUSE/PARTNER) have (SEPARATED/DIVORCED). Of course we are sad, but it will all work out (FOR THE BEST/OK).

   Our (DOG/CAT) is doing great!

   We are thinking of you, and hope to see you in the New Year. Have a great (HOLIDAY) and love to you and yours!

                                                   THE (SURNAME)S

o tannenbaum

 So the kids went tree-cutting. That child above looks just like her mother (who took these pictures) did when we took her tree cutting.
We did not have any Santa hats, however.

shut-ins

Photo by Kay Maddux

"I had a day of cardinal sins," my neighbor announced. "I did not get dressed. I did not make the bed. I did not brush my teeth."
    She didn't take her calcium either. Though she did take a bath.
"Whose rules are these?" I asked.
"My parents, of course!"
Never mind that she's closing in on 80.
"Even though your parents are dead, it doesn't mean that you're not affected by their rules," she said. She was pleased that despite these moral failings she no longer believes she's going to hell.
   And speaking of failings, and not getting out of bed or getting dressed, I finally cut up the pineapple and tidied up the apartment from Thanksgiving—yesterday. But then, my parents were not whispering in my ear. This is the Apartment of No Regrets, after all. A better place to be housebound I can't imagine.