MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Washington Duke Inn, Durham, NC

This holiday has been amazing.  My first one ever without driving from store to store.  I've hosted some twenty-five Christmas dinners for family--many of them chaotic--and chosen nearly all the gifts my husband and I give.  It's something I like doing. But because of surgery and a long recovery I can't drive or brave the mall crowds.  I can't bend, lift or twist.  Not yet.  I've missed the band concerts, the Christmas Oratorio, Sunday church, restaurant crowds, the annual faculty dinner dance, the craft fairs, The Nutcracker performance, Handel's Messiah, and all the other festive events. My husband's been on overtime helping me. I'm at home healing.  With my thoughts, a lovely tree, music playing and the dog for company.  And with the friends who visit, bring food and share meaningful conversations. Nine weeks and counting. Amazingly it's been an enriching time.

So now it's almost Christmas. I hope that everyone else has enjoyed their preparations, the ups and downs, the shopping, the Christmas pageants and all the rest.  I hope that travelers are safe.  I hope that the turkey is bought or the ham ordered or the beef marinating, the oysters, the yams and potatoes, the brussel sprouts or green beans and all the sides at the ready.  That there's enough wrapping paper and tape for even the latest shopper.  And that everyone who wants to has time for church on Christmas Eve, the greeting of friends, the sharing of peace, the bell choir, trumpet and flute, the carols, the welcoming of the baby Jesus and the quiet rendition of Silent Night as candle lights candle, sopranos hitting the high notes with ease.  May we help the poor, pray for the sick, show compassion to all and find salve for our fears and disappointments in the coming of the Christ Child.

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

 ♰

Duke Chapel

                                                                           MERRY CHRISTMAS
                                                                              Nina Naomi






 

"FIND YOUR INNER CALM"

When our children were young mindfulness was the last thing on my mind; mindlessness was more like it.  Even past the toddler stage.  Where's money for the book fair? Where's that permission slip? Where's my homework?  Where are my boots? Can someone pick me up?  I have flute lesson tonight.  I have drum lesson.  It's church youth group.  Every parent knows this drill.  Working parent[s], kids, pets and then add the wonderful holiday season.  

I would have rushed past the idea of an inner calm.  Who had the time?  And mindfulness was not even a fad, let alone a movement.  I know there are readers at this stage in their lives.  Not many, because who at this stage has the time to read?  On the other hand, I see inspirational mommy-bloggers who help other moms feel less alone, less isolated.  Some are natural comedians. All are super-moms in my opinion. I read as many as I can.  

Why bring this up?  Well, because the holidays are laden with memories. Memories piled as high as gifts on Santa's sleigh.  Because my husband and I are sifting through memorabilia to create family treasure boxes for the grandchildren. Because so many of our Christmas decorations were made by a child.  And because all of my favorite magazines, the ones filled with Christmas crafting ideas, are reminding me to find my inner calm. 

So, I'm going to count my blessings and do it.  First, the blessings.  We made it through that early period of our lives. We're being recycled as grandparents, but we're not in charge.  Our role is limited:  school pick-up, enjoying a band concert, supporting school fund-raisers, sleepovers and lots of unconditional love.  So I have time for mindfulness, for seeking inner calm.

Other blessings.  Yesterday my two teenage grandsons paid a surprise visit while I'm still recovering from surgery.  Their surprises used to be scaring me to death.  Jumping out from behind something or other.  I'm great at feigning scared, aren't you?  It seems to be a grandma's  job requirement. But yesterday's visit was truly welcome. Nothing is better than seeing the love between these boys. 

More blessings.  With me s t i l l housebound from my surgery I thought we would have a lonely holiday season.  Far from it.  So many wonderful friends have made sick-calls.  Most bring soup or bread or a poinsettia.  Some have brought whole meals and joined us to eat them.  One of my friends today bathed Mr. Wiggles for me!  Can you believe that?  Our stinky little boy needed a bath and she corralled all 10 pounds of him and left him fragrant and soft. 

Then she brought in some outdoor pot-plants that needed saving.  Of course I immediately had negative thoughts about myself.  Have I paid visits and brought food and good cheer when others have been sick?  But mindfulness says "banish that inner critic."  So I did.  Thank you friends for sharing tea and cookies, for listening to my tales of recovery, for relieving my husband so he can do all the errands that pile up at Christmas.  And bathing Mr. Wiggles. Now that goes above and beyond! 

So I would say that I have found my inner calm.  Being in a recovery mode has eliminated all the hassle of the season.  Friends and family have picked up the slack everywhere.  The trick will be to retain that inner calm when my recovery is finished and I no longer need the help that has been so freely given.  What has been your experience?  How do you reach and maintain an inner calm?  I want to know everyone's secrets.  In peace, Nina Naomi

GRATEFUL FOR A SNOWY DAY!

I woke up to a beautiful new fallen snow.  It kept falling all day.  Still at sundown it falls.  Our power flickers but we are ready with flashlights, candles and matches.  We baked apples and roasted a chicken earlier in the day to eat hot or cold.  We have left-over beef/bison/lamb meatloaf for cold sandwiches. And chilled cranberry sauce that goes with everything. We've cozied-up in the bedroom with an aromatic cedar fir candle burning.  

We brought in Mr. Wiggles' bed so he will feel safe when the power goes out and all the devices start beeping--smoke alarms, microwave, printer . . . .  We're ready for a cold dark night. 

I have socks by the bedside, a Shetland cardigan, a robe and an old wool shawl.  We will read and write until the power goes out.  

After all-day flickering we know the routine.  The snow that has been weighing down the power lines turns to ice.  Somewhere, somewhere a line comes down and 350 homes lose power.  Then another and 350 more homes lose power.  Then another. Just like dominoes. 

We have enough wood for a fire.  

But it's the North Carolina Piedmont.  Our floods and hurricanes are worse.  Snow is temporary and most of us love it.  By day-after-tomorrow the sun will shine.  The snow, the dark, the food, the candles, the warm duvet, the wonderful men and women who work on the power lines--for all this I am grateful.  For all this I am glad.  

I am betting there is joy in your winter too!