Big Bowl of Comfort


This is the spicy, hot, flavorful, rich, nourishing and delicious soup that was brought to my door on Friday. Friday was turning in to one of those days marked by pain, embarrassment, and disappointment, but Karen caught me from free falling in to the Perilous Pit of Pity. It did not reverse the farces of evil that kept me from celebrating Christmas Moms' Night Out, but it came unexpectedly and with a hug and Karen's encouraging smile and that made the biggest difference in the world. I felt the love, I felt the support and I felt the yum...
mmmm that was good soup.

Later, a second visitor ensured that I stayed well clear of the Perilous Pit of Pity. Seriously, we have got to keep clear of the PPP... it moves around, can sneak up on you and it's mean. But like I said, I had another visitor. Anne came with huge stash of MNO gifts... eat-ables and wear-ables and a beautiful little handmade handbag, a movie pass and a coffee pass. I made her describe Josie's menu, which sounded fabulous... no surprises here. Anne shared the news and fresh fruit and she assured me that the red bench came out fine. Maria found us in the garden and joined us for hugs and chatting.

Hmmmm.

There may be something to this... to these simple pleasures and kind gestures. I do wish I were all recovered and perky and able to conquer everything on the Holiday Extravaganza Wish List, but visits from friends, a bowl of hot soup, a chance to listen and talk... these have been very nice moments in this season of light. A good reminder to myself to lighten up, to ease off on trying to be everywhere, doing everything.

Yesterday I did a small photography job for a friend, something that may take some stress out of her holidays. Today I am visiting Max's school to help with an art project. Our tree has only lights, so far. That's okay. I may be ordering fruit baskets and having them shipped instead of flying around the malls and post office... that's okay too, right? My goal is to get healthy, stay healthy, enjoy Christmas moments, make heartfelt gestures, keep light, calm and merry, and find out where Karen got that soup.

Some Mothering
This post first appeared last year and I think it's well worth repeating, with some additional faces. The first time I published it, it took forever just to gather the images, to double check that I was representing as many mothers as possible and then to format all of them etc. I didn't have time or energy left to name names + I am totally paranoid about misspelling and mislabeling. This seemed like a ripe opportunity to make a classic, if innocent, goof-up. Another thing that I thought a lot about is this... I know many women who are not technically mothers and yet they definitely posses the strength and caring, the nurturing and dedication... doting aunts, dear friends, generous women... is there a name for them, do we recognize those kinds of mothers? I think we should. Happy Mothers' Day to all the women who care and give, and support and inspire. We make a good team.