Thursday, December 17, 2009

Here Comes the Sun!


Here we go again! I can't help but start to get a little excited as we draw near the winter solstice occurring this coming Monday. For us, in the northern hemisphere, it signals the end of fall and the beginning of winter. While our southern neighbors are enjoying the holidays at summer solstice. To some of them, like Baino and Lily, it's a great "time for an ice cold Horton's Semillon and a leg dangle in the pool . . ." From that day forward, it will start to get a little bit lighter each day for us and for them, darker.

It's always darkest before the dawn. That's how I feel at this time of year. My physical and emotional bodies just want to follow the ancient rhythms of life. To draw my energy inward just like the wise, old trees and hibernating animals. At the height of the holiday season, with all its activities and socialization, when all I want to do is hunker down and write or read a book or watch a movie, I have to fight to make myself get out in the world. It just seems to go against the order of life. Well, mine anyway. Am I the only one?

I sometimes think, after all my many years of celebrating the holidays during winter, how weird it would feel to experience them during summer. But, truly, it would probably better fit my energy pattern. Anyway, just a few more days until I start counting down to the coming light and energy packed, warm days. Time to make a wish and spin that wheel of life again in the power of the new born year.

So, if by chance, you happen to be at a party and you see a middle aged woman wrapped in a fluffy, white, spa robe wearing crocheted, patchwork, granny slippers, sipping out of a Crown Royal whiskey bottle while using its purple, velvet bag for a purse, say cheers. I'll wave back and offer you a knock off the 'ol bottle. Of course, I'll wipe the top off with my sleeve first. After all, my momma raised me to have manners!

Here comes the sun, (du-du-du-du)
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's alright

George Harrison
Here Comes the Sun

36 comments:

Mrsupole said...

Hi Ronda,

When we lived in Panama we pretty much only had two seasons, wet and a little less wet. It was not hard to celebrate Christmas, except that you had to buy all your gifts in August because that is when the Christmas items were shipped down there. If you did not buy them ASAP then you went without. It was strange in that it was only a few days spent doing your shopping and then months of hiding the gifts. The only way to make it feel like Christmas was to wrap the gifts a few weeks before Christmas. Very different times, I must say.

But you know that in the Southern part of our great state, we can have it be over 90 degrees on Christmas day. We never know what to expect. I do like it when it is at least below 70 degrees outside on Christmas day. The only way for us to get a "White Christmas" is to go somewhere else. At least you have a chance to get one.

And hopefully soon it will cool down enough to start having fires in the fireplace. I am with you about curling up with a good book or watching a movie.

But strangely enough my tomato plants are still growing tomatoes and here it is the middle of Decemeber. My flowers are still growing like weeds which means we are having a mild winter. I would also like to ask you to thank Sven's cousin for all the rain we got here last week. It was wonderful. I know it did not make much of a dent in our drought but at least it was a start. Hopefully Sven will keep talking to his cousin so we can get more rain. Yea rain!!!

God bless.

Candie said...

I feel totally the same Ronda!It snows here!I feel like book,movie,soup,wrapped in a blanket!lol I totally understand what you talk about!Have a nice day!To hibernate that's the verb!lol

Brian Miller said...

lol. thanks for wiping off the top of the bottle...and for sharing. i think it would be interesting for the holidays not to be at winter. i guess the closest i got was swimming on new years when we lived in florida...

tony said...

I'm The Same........All This Festiveness & All I Wanna Do Is Snooze!!!!

Kate Hanley said...

I agree that our bodies want to slow down at this time of year and it's soooo difficult to fight the urge. I'm with you though, I'll be the other chick at the party in a robe and slippers but I'll have a martini if you don't mind! : )

Reya Mellicker said...

LOVE that song, btw.

Strangely, I get into the hubbub of the darkest days of winter. You know I'm a contrarian so I enjoy fighting against the gathering gloom. More lights! More candles! More parties! More noise!! I DEFY the winter solstice.

But when January comes, and I'm assured that the light will return, then is when I want to hunker down with books and quiet.

Much love to you!!

Skip Simpson said...

Crown Royal??? (perks up) RONDA!!! My FRIEND!!!

Ronda Laveen said...

Sherry: Your memories of Panama are so strong. It must have been a great part of your life. We don't hit the 90s in December like you do, but sometimes in the mid-60s. How wonderful that you are still getting tomatoes. Mmmm, yummy salsa. Yes, I'm thanking Sven for getting his cousin to let loose those rain clouds! Yeah! We're still getting some up here.

Candie: Yes, hibernating sounds so good to me too! Cuppa cocoa?

Brian: Happy to share. Wow, swimming on New Year's Day? How fun. Here, once in a while the have good enough weather for a New Year's round of golf. And then we have the polar bear clubs where you swim in freezing temps and water. I can't quite go there but some pople love it.

Tony: Yep, for me, it's a good time to be home too.

Kate: Shaken, stirred or dirty?

Skip: Yes, Crown Royal! My favorite holiday treat. Stop by for a drink!

Baino said...

Ha! Getting a little darker won't faze me I can tell you. I'm up with the parrots at 5am these days! Actually you're not the only one wanting to hunker down although I won't be snuggling next to a fire, I'm just hanging out for 2 weeks of slow life over the holidays. It does feel strange celebrating Christmas in the heat though but it's a lovely time of year and wonderful to catch up with family and friends. Now get a glass and stop drinking from the bottle!

Ronda Laveen said...

Reya: Yes, you are a contrarian. Good for you. You are so right about turning on more lights, and lighting lots of candles. It certainly helps but I still just want to stay home. I love the parties once I get there, it's just the walking out the front door that's hard. Which is so contrary for me. I'm always a high energy being doing this and that. Going here and there. Maybe it's just my rejuvenation time. XXOO

CiCi said...

One of the rewards of being old and retired is we don't have to do much of anything. Today we dropped by the library and then a stop for some groceries and then home to read, watch a movie, make lunch, read some more, nap, gosh what a life, huh.

Ronda Laveen said...

TechnoBabe: Oh, I am so envious!

Mike said...

Maybe we should sail off to the tropics and celebrate Christmas. They have MILF's in the tropics? right! lol

Ronda Laveen said...

Otin: Great idea! They have MILF's in the tropics, YES!

Ronda Laveen said...

Baino: Yes, mam! On my way to get a glass! Enjoy your two weeks of laying low. Two weeks sounds so blissful. We don't get to slow down like that here in the states.

Ze O said...

Ronda, you are absolutely not alone! I feel the same way and am getting kind of excited, just like you.

My holidays are going to be quiet ones - which is pretty great, come to think of it.
And I have a robe and slippers, too! :D

Ronda Laveen said...

Christina: Maybe we could get robes and slippers adopted as the new holiday attire. I think it could take off. I really do!

Leah said...

I am living for the Solstice...

And love the image of you in the slippers and robe, tippling out of a bottle.

Ed & Jeanne said...

I'm just glad I don't live in northern Norway or something right now...

Dorraine said...

Ha, save me a sip and cheers! Yes, I get the whole winter robe thing. Although I live in the south, we've had nothing but rain and dreary days for almost two weeks now. Yesterday, despite all I still needed to do, I did read a book. Finally. It felt so wonderful to take time out even if I had to close down shop to make it happen.

Here's to the book, the bottle and the robe!!

Megan said...

I'm in on the robe & slippers thing. Now I just need to choose my tipple...

Ronda Laveen said...

Leah: I'm living for the solstice too. Just a couple more days! Maybe the Sisterhood of the Sipping Sisters?

VE: Me too! I am ready for the light to return.

Dorraine: Yes, you are certainly getting lots of weather activity...rain and SNOW! Sometimes you just have to hang out the gone fishin' sign. I haven't done it yet but maybe this weekend.

Loved the phrase, "...the book, the bottle, and the robe. Kinda reminded me of the bell, book and candle. Great pacing. And I'll definitely save you a swig or three.

Megan: What kinda tipple are you considering? I think we have enough members for a girl gang now. Maybe even a guy or two.

lettuce said...

in dressing gown and slippers now
sipping only tea though

i share your hibernating instincts
tho, have to say, the early sun on the snow is tempting...

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

I'm also in hibernation mode. In fact I'm in my fluffy spa robe as I write this. I want to sign up for the girl gang, too!

Dave King said...

Family-wise it has not been a good year for us. I think I'm looking to next year for the sun.

Ronda Laveen said...

Lettuce: Tea is just fine. I love it too. You are so right. That early sun on snow is very, very tempting.

CatLady L: You were in your robe as you wrote your comment? That is so timely. You are an official memeber of the girl gang.

Dave: I am so sorry to hear that your year has not been good. Yes, soon the new year will come...only a couple of days now.

ratatouille's archives said...

Ronda said,"Here we go again! I can't help but start to get a little excited as we draw near the winter solstice occurring this coming Monday. For us, in the northern hemisphere, it signals the end of fall and the beginning of winter..."

Hi! Ronda,
I must admit that I'am looking forward to winter solstice. I'am the opposite...winter have me "rearing" to go, go, go...snow, snow,
snow. But, I truly understand your feeling about winter. I must admit that your last paragraph is too funny!
By the way,I hope that you and your family have a pleasant holiday season.
Take care!
DeeDee ;-D

Ze O said...

Only one more day, Ronda!
Today it got dark at approx. 3:45 pm. Absolutely ridiculous, no?

Ronda Laveen said...

DeeDee: Hey, girl! So good to read you again. I am go, go, go in the heat of summer. Bring it on! But in winter, I am always busy but could really be a slug if I had the opportunity. Glad you enjoyed the last paragraph. I enjoyed writing it!

Christina: Yep! One more day. I'm going to start counting down. Dark at 3:45. Ridiculous, yes! 10...9...8...7...

janet copenhaver said...

Nope your not alone! I was basking on the couch today as I tried to sleep, with the sun being at it's lowest point, I'm sure ready for a little shade. lol

Came by way of TechnoBabe!

Ronda Laveen said...

Mee too!

JGH said...

Happy Solstice to you, Ronda! Hard to believe we have reached the darkest day of the year already, but the kids are coming home from school in the twilight sometimes now. So now that we're on the upswing lightwise, I think I can officially start planning the spring garden!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

I like to burrow in for awhile in winter (and Christmas) with a little snow and if I am really BLESSED...a few days with NO WHERE to go!!! Love the snow...if only for a little while!

Happy Christmas to you!!!!

mouse (aka kimy) said...

happy solstice - may your fire burn bright tonight and may that brightness infuse your holidays and be carried into the new year! namaste!

colbymarshall said...

Haha- save me a sip!

Ronda Laveen said...

JGH: Oh, planning a garden sounds so lovely right now. And, actually, in the power of the solstice, not a bad idea.

Jill: No where to go, even for one day would be so lovely. The snow sounds lovely too.

Mouse: And the same to you...ten fold in teh power of the new, baby Yule. Namaste.

ColbyMarshall: I certainly shall!! Welcome to the Wonderland.