December 2020 in Pictures

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'" — Alfred Lord Tennyson

Currently • December 2020

"Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room." — Nora Roberts

READING:

• Scandinavian Philosophy:

  • The Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen — “A Finnish journalist, now a naturalized American citizen, asks Americans to draw on elements of the Nordic way of life to nurture a fairer, happier, more secure, and less stressful society for themselves and their children” (Goodreads). I wanted to love this book. I did not. It was more preachy and political than I had hoped.

  • Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much, Just Right: The Swedish Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life — “At its core is the idea that we can strike a healthy balance with the world around us without having to make extreme changes, and without denying ourselves anything.” (Goodreads) Now you’re talking!

• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles — “He can’t leave his hotel. You won’t want to… In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery” (Goodreads). Great writing and such a good story.

WATCHING:

• My favorite Christmas movies and specials: White Christmas, Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown — Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack always makes me smile while Linus’ recitation of the gospel of St. Luke always brings me to tears. “That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!” We also watched Christmas Vacation, Elf, Prep and Landing, and Home Alone 2. Eric finally saw Home Alone last year for the first time. This year, it’s Lost in New York.

LISTENING TO:

• Dessert Island Discs podcast — “Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.”

• My Christmas Playlist — Everything from Band Aid to Bing. Occasionally, I add something new, but this list has been my classic go-to for decades.

• Smooth Jazz Christmas station on Pandora — I can never get enough of Vince Guaraldi and George Winston, especially at Christmastime.

PLANNING:

• Ideas for next year’s photography challenges and blog posts.

• A living room refresh — paint, carpet, a few fireplace tweaks…stay tuned.

ENJOYING:

• A little Christmas celebration chez nous — just the Larsons and, of course, the three beagles. We had Champagne and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening along with Jesus’ birthday cake and Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs for brunch the next morning.

• 16 Days Off — Although we don’t have any special plans for the holidays, I am so fortunate to be able to take a nice long break. That’s exactly what I want and need as 2020 comes to an end.

FEELING:

• Hopeful — In a few days, 2020 will be over. We have been diligent about virtual learning, social distancing, masks and hand sanitizer. Through it all, I’ve stayed healthy, relatively happy, finally optimistic. I can’t help but think that 2021 will (eventually) be better. I am eager to spend more time with friends and family, to see people’s smiles, and to travel again. Here’s hoping!

In a word, Pomegranate

“Look at all the life in this," she said. "Every pip could become a tree, and every tree could bear another hundred fruits and every fruit could bear another hundred trees. And so on to infinity." — David Almond, Skellig

On the last day of school before Christmas vacation, a very kind and very cleaver educator sent me one of the most considerate gifts that I have ever received — a pomegranate. He explained that the pomegranate or punica granatum is symbolic in many cultures, representing prosperity, ambition, abundance, and good luck — all lovely gifts for the new year. He spoke of the health benefits of this "frickin' delicious" fruit as well as the effort required to harvest its seeds: “If you have never taken the time to break down a pomegranate, you’re in for a treat (and an arduous task). But the manner in which the seeds are so tightly packed and delicately protected is a true natural marvel. Kind of like every day we get to be alive on this planet. May your pom have 365+ seeds to cover you for each day this next year! May your 2021 be the best rebound year you could have ever imagined. And may every little sweet, tart, delicious seed you harvest represent a beautiful day or memory in the year to come.” What a generous gift and, as my friend suggests, “If each seed is one of happiness for you, perhaps you may bring happiness to others. And this connected happiness becomes joy for everyone!”

The final aspect of this wonderful present was a challenge to document the process of harvesting the seeds and to share my photos. "The shared images of hilarity, frustration, and fun could (selfishly) end up being the best part of this gift. It is likely you will be left with deep red juice on the counter, the floor, your shirt, your hands, just about everywhere. And that’s part of the messy journey. The fruits of your labor are the result of your work. Lean into the process so you can enjoy the product. But don’t ever forget that the process is how you got there.”

In the final weeks of December, I always take time to reflect on the past year and to "plan" for the new by choosing one word to guide my thoughts and observations. In 2019, my word was "wonder." In 2020, I chose "focus." Thanks to my cleaver friend, my somewhat enigmatic word for 2021 is "pomegranate."

May 2021 be a year …

• of good health -- In contrast to 2020, may the new year be one of healing of bodies, minds, and hearts.

• of potential -- In 2021, I will strive to contribute, to create, to make (or to quote my alma mater "to be") the difference.

• of abundance -- May we all recognize the abundance of blessings, hope, and joy, and inspiration in the ordinary and the extraordinary.

And I promise to document “the messy journey.”

The beginning of “the messy journey.” I learned that if you whack the pomegranate all around with a wooden spoon, the seeds, called arils release more easily. (Thanks, Nan!)

Piper discovered that pomegranates are indeed “frickin’ delicious” and she will undoubtedly be by my side throughout the journey that is 2021.

Glorious Mess

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." — Andy Rooney 🎁🎄🐾❤

Christmas Angels

“When cardinals appear, angels are near.”

There is an old saying that when a cardinal appears in your yard, it’s a visitor from heaven, a sign of beauty in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of sorrow, and renewal in the midst of winter. It’s Christmas Eve and of course, my mom and dad wouldn’t miss it!

Links I Love • December 2020

“Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters, streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope and singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.” — Maya Angelou

• Cocktails with a Curator — A perfect mix of cocktails and art. Every Friday at 5:00 p.m., join us for happy hour as a Frick curator (remotely) offers insights on a work of art with a complementary cocktail.

• The Marquette University interactive Advent Calendar — So many lovely, little gifts from my alma mater.

• Always dreaming of being in Paris especially at Christmastime:

  • The Best Christmas Decorations in Paris

  • Take A Virtual Shopping Trip Through Paris Great Department Stores

  • 19 Stunning Holiday Pastries from French Pâtissiers

  • The Most Beautiful Parisian Yule Logs of Christmas 2020

  • Christmas Concert in Notre Dame Cathedral, streamed live December 25, 2020 — A stunning message of grace, resilience, and hope!

• What Wearing All Black Reveals About Your Personality

• Charlotte Casiraghi is Launching a Literary Rendez-vous with Chanel

• My First Crush — Oh Shaun Cassidy, if only you shipped to Wisconsin!

• How to watch the America’s Cup — Of course I’m rooting for American Magic.