I talked to my brother for a just a few minutes on the phone — that's how we roll — and caught up on what's happening in his household today.

Everyone there was gearing up for NFL games and dinner, to be made by Nephew #1, as he does every other Saturday night.  I got the update on the boys' various activities and chores when a light-hearted wrestling match broke out in the back room, so there was a play-by-play on that.  And the weather report: cold.

I hung up thinking about the happy clatter that came through the phone, and I pictured the little-boy storm rolling around the residence. It's a three-ring circus, non-stop action, and I like how my nephews are growing up. It's not by chance.

There's a lot in the news this week about parenting styles, and debate over what is the right mix of discipline and freedom. That is the eternal question!  Raising kids is the toughest job in the world and my brother and sister-in-law are doing it very well. Wish I could be there for dinner tonight (I think).   

Today it was 65 degrees and sunny. I sat on the deck and read magazines. I ignored my to-do list for the afternoon. How many 65-degree, sunny, vacation afternoons do you get? 

I put down the magazines after a while and just thought, marveled, really, over the past year. So many blessings in one 12-month space. This was not a year of significant change for me. I don’t think I met one new person in 2011. But it was one of the richest, deepest years in recent memory because of time spent with special people from throughout my entire life. I sat back and enjoyed the heck out of it. This past year had lots of sunny afternoons.

I think I covered most of the highlights in the Thanksgiving poem but how about a “Best of 2010” list to close out the year? Here goes:

Continue reading “mapgirl’s year in review” →

I'm out of sorts today. There's no explanation for why. Just feeling blue.

I tried all my usual tricks for feeling better — Zevon, Coke Zero, a magazine. Still disconsolate.

So I turned on all the Christmas lights and read a little bit more. Then I realized there was still an unused string of lights I hadn't put up yet: Bumbles! I recognize the true meaning of Christmas with Nativity scenes and Advent calendars. But I also have a few items from "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town."

So now I have Bumbles all around my bathroom mirror. So I will have a little Bumbles glow tonight as I get ready for bed, and tomorrow as I get ready for work.

And compared to Bumbles, I look good. All better.

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.

Most years spent exploring, this one spent restoring
Old ties with good friends for long visits and chats
Some cousins, some classmates, two weddings that were great
With one bride a girl whom I had babysat.

Still loving my own place, still running the rat race
Now part of a carpool that starts before dawn
Enjoying my labors, enjoying my neighbors
Despite suburbs’ ongoing drama of lawn.

Much time at the airport, for music and for sports,
So much awesome travel! Sea to shining sea!
Atlantic, Pacific, both truly terrific
But sometimes back home is where I like to be.

One night in Peoria: a special euphoria
Was found on the street where I spent early life
And as in times olden, the western sky golden,
The sweet sound of church bells to beckon the night.

So deeply familiar, so timeless and so pure
To know that these blessings are still in the air!
The people I love best (and yes, even the rest)
Remain near that street. May they always be there.

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator sing out so He’ll hear
Thanks for the time just past, my stars, did it go fast!
Here’s wishing you all good in the coming year. 

How many Thanksgiving hymns did you sing this year? Probably zero, unless you were in church on the Sunday before Turkey Day. That's really the only time these great songs see the light of day.

Actually, in my life, this year I heard Christmas carols before Thanksgiving, which I found so irritating. I wish Thanksgiving as a whole lasted 3x longer than it does, and Christmas lasted one-tenth the time of the bloated commercial season. But we can't always get what we want.

All that's within my control is to celebrate Thanksgiving as much as I can, and that means expressing my thankfulness through the words of Thanksgiving hymns. As last year I made some additions, I have altered the original words a bit. I guess this makes me the "Weird Al" Yankovic of Thanksgiving hymns.

Here's my Thanksgiving hymn for 2010. I would need many more stanzas to include all the blessings in my life, but I hope this gets the general point across!  

P.S. If you want to hear the original, which is based on the tune of "The Ash Grove," you can hear it here.