Like of each thing, 2016

Julia ♦ December 19, 2023 ♦ 2 Comments

This seems a most fitting post for me to re-blog, as I try to see through tear-dimmed eyes whatever gifts are there for me in this season of my life. Ann, the photo of Pasha is for you!  And Happy Birthday to my dear friend Nancy, whose home was always open to Jeff and me from the earliest days of our courtship, through every trip to Nashville we ever made over the years. Thanks to all of you for being here with me.

Pasha watching the snow fall at Christmas time, Alexandria, Virginia 2010

“At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.”
—William Shakespeare

When we moved to Virginia from California, I missed having roses in December. Yet I was happy to be living once again in a climate similar to that of my home town, where each season brings its familiar but ever-fresh charms. Wherever you are living, whatever your weather, I hope you will be gladdened today by the natural adornments of the season.

This post was first published seven years ago today. Compared to the multi-faceted festivities I used to host from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, I no longer celebrate Christmas in any way, other than sending cards, so these memories are bittersweet. But I am grateful for all the years I had so many people for whom I tried to make every Christmas extra-special. I enjoyed every minute of it– well, almost every minute– and I have no regrets. Age and loss bring change, but slowing down and scaling back offer rewards in keeping with this season of life, and in the spirit of the quote on this post, I am grateful for the blessings that continue.

Speaking of which, I wish a fond “Happy Birthday” to another dear friend who also has a birthday today, with whom I’m happy to be back in touch after many years. AC, you know I’m talking to you! 

The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.