Happy Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice.  As I sit hear listening to Tori Amos’s Midwinter Graces, watching the sun already set low in the west, I’ve got to thinking about some of my favorite Christmas movies, and how dark they are. Like Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. I’m fond of singing “Make-ing Christ-mas, Make-ing, Christ-mas, la la Read More …

I think it is safe to say Christmas is the most important holiday in my family, especially for my mother. Every year on Thanksgiving night, after the meal has been cleared and we’re awake from our post-turkey naps and thinking about second helpings of pumpkin pie, the first viewing of White Christmas happens. When we Read More …

Since I mentioned my niece, a post devoted to ornaments from her: a stain-glassed pear she painted, and a cut-out snowflake. A Christmas tree should have a good mix of handmade ornaments and polished, store-bought ones. Both make me think of the giver, but the rough edges of the handmade ones always make me smile Read More …

Today, a fox from Sonoma, CA, bought in a shop off the central plaza. I lived in Livermore, California briefly, back in the latter half of 2005, with my bother, sister-in-law and niece. Many things in my life had come to a head that spring: end of the first post grad school year, cobbling life Read More …

More creatures. The animals outnumber all other ornaments, save for the Christmas balls. But that is to be expected, especially since I met Michael over four years ago and discovered his heart for animals, he having grown up on a horse farm. Before I get to all the unruly bears we share space with, this Read More …

Last night my friend Emily had a holiday housewarming party at her new place in Park Slope. She asked her guests to bring nothing but an ornament for her first tree. And so we did. As the evening progressed and the naked tree filled with color and sparkle, a bird theme emerged. My gift: a Read More …

Second grade. Mrs. Gombocz’s class. A jumble of memories, such as Mrs. Gombocz’s red hair. An arithmetic workbook. The guinea pig kept in the back of the room that certain kids got to take home on long weekends to watch. And this scene: one day I asked whether I could come back to the classroom after Read More …

Some stories become mantras over the years, such as that first day of December when my younger sister was born it was 60 degrees and my mother brought her home in a light blanket. And then other stories are more of an impression, an image, the details hazy. Such as this stuffed mouse. Was it Read More …

My company’s holiday party is tonight. It’s at one of my favorite places: the MET’s Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian wing. I love holiday parties: the decorations, the food and wine, the winter wardrobe of sweaters and corduroy. But most of all the cheer, the gathering of people at the darkest time of the Read More …