We were talking last night over a celebratory bottle of Spanish wine about our urge to live more of a city life, to have more urban energy around us. As we drove to the restaurant last night, the city spread out in the night all lit up for the holidays, full of people, and we thought how lovely it would be to have known places nearby once again, the way we used to when our favorite restaurant was just down the street, when the dry cleaner and the wine shop and the market and the bakery and the pub were all right there, full of familiar strangers. It can be very good to belong in a place like that.
And it’s also good to belong where we do, and to be who we are right now. Last night we celebrated 22 years of living together. The nice people at the restaurant gave us a dessert (gooey chocolate cake, espresso flan, profiterole!). We talked about small moments and big ideas. We remembered, and we looked ahead… It was a lovely evening. And it reminded me that I am both a creature of yearning and big dreams, and one who prizes the beauty and joy of the small daily moments. I’m grateful for those things, and although there is much about me I would change, I am grateful to be what I am.
And since I am currently in a mood to eschew the authority of the calendar (Hah! to your structure I say, hah!), today is my thanksgiving day; and because I am so goddamn busy, I’ll let other people talk about the yearning and the big dreams and the everyday beauty and joy. They say it so well.
Here’s John Scalzi talking about right here, right now.
And here are many of your sister and brother humans talking about their lives at The Rumpus.
Whoever we are, whatever may have come to us in life, we have this day. I’m thankful to spend part of mine with you. I hope you enjoy yours.
Letting other people talk is a good talent, and one it took me half my life to learn. It’s often easier to bitch than be thankful. Both have their own kind of energy, but today I’ll take thankful. I’m glad you got the day off.
Thank you for providing a link to The Rumpus. (new to me) With my tea this morning I read about a woman’s experience with birthing her babies; I read as far as this:
It is amazing the difference it makes sometimes when someone just reaches into the heart of your experience and names it, and sits there with you in it.
Jenn
(And that’s as much as I can hold close to my chest today. I’m thankful for it.)