The Expanse

{photo taken with the tiltshift iphone app}

I walked across the bridge last night and saw the frozen expanse of the river creep towards the bright lights of the city. The barren 'scape held a quiet one often sees this January time. Despite the stillness, I felt an incredible openness - the vast winter sky and river mirrored the great expectation I felt in my heart about the coming weeks. I am starting something new, inching forward towards greater change. I feel this change echoing through my body as cogs and gears, unused for so long, take motion once more. I feel more life flowing through me than I have felt in a long time. I am excited and also at peace with the current of things.

A Two-Hour Embrace

I can't stop watching Away We Go. A Christmas present, I have watched the DVD three times in the past week. That is A LOT since once I see a movie I usually don't care to watch it for at least a couple of months. But this movie is just so good. Almost too good. The Sam Mendes film offers its viewers a glimpse into a couple in love like no one else. Burt (John Krasinski - swoon) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are two idyllic creatures floating through a film littered with vibrant and blatantly flawed characters. Through the noise of these bursting, comedic sketches comes the quiet, gentle rhythm of Burt and Verona (with the help of Alexi Murdoch's flawless music) that acts like a two hour embrace. I love the idea of this film - a couple traveling around to all the people they have known to find a place to raise their child. A worthy journey. The end result is a perfect culmination of all they are seeking and so fitting for these 30-somethings who are trying to "figure basic stuff out." The movie feels like an old friend, who reminds me of the possibility of a great love and that everything is going to be okay.

Image found here.

A Birdhouse

All this talk of Little Women has got me wanting a birdhouse mailbox like the one Laurie gives to the March girls as a means of communicating between "adjoining nations." My parents are in pursuit of a new mailbox and I have tried desperately to convince them to get a birdhouse mailbox, a tribute to our family's love Louisa May Alcott's novel. Speaking of Ms. Alcott, I recently saw an American Masters' tribute to the author - the story of her life, which was actually quite sad as she was forced to not only be her family's breadwinner (to compensate for her father's idealistic, fool-hardy whims) but to also write in the genre of children's literature, when her creative soul craved so much more. Do check it out if you can!

Little Women

The best memory I have (to date) happened when I was ten years old. My family had moved from our established New York life to a two hundred year-old farmhouse on a dirt road in the rurals of Maine. Neither of my parents had found jobs yet and our finances were meager.

Despite this fiscal scarcity, my mom surprised me in my fourth grade class on the snowy afternoon of January 6th - Little Christmas. She told my teacher that she had to take me out for the rest of the day for an appointment. Not having a clue what was afoot, I gathered my belongings and followed her out the car, only to find my dad behind the steering wheel. My mom said that I could play hookie from school this afternoon as we were off on a family adventure!

My mom handed me a card designed in her illustrious script. I wished I had saved this special note. It went something like this, "Happy Little Christmas, Dear Little Emily. To celebrate this special time, we will be taking you to see Little Women, then out to dinner as a treat! Here is also this little necklace that for you to wear this evening." Enclosed with the letter was a cameo pendant on a black velvet ribbon. It was to be worn as a choker. It was the prettiest thing in the world.

Movie-going was a rarity during that time of our lives and I recall this sense of awe and anticipation flowing through my body as we walked into the movie theater. The film is, in a word, spectacular. The cast, the set, the music, the entire essence of this movie beautifully captures Louisa May Alcott's words. With every viewing, I find myself filled with the promise that comes from Jo's courage to follow her dream and preserve her family. This movie has become a family tradition - we watch it year after year - always around Christmas.

Something about Little Women is so refined, so classic. So honestly good. It symbolizes the goodness of my childhood. The March family's simple, authentic happiness embodies my own family. Being home for the holidays last week, I felt this goodness more and more. I am a lucky girl.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Winter Fun

Mae waits for me to throw perfect snowball!

Let me introduce you to Clem (short for Clement), the first snowman I made in years! I need to make them more often! I especially like his arms - they are so welcoming!

I had a beautiful two weeks at home (especially with a magical snowstorm last weekend) and now feel fully refreshed to face some upcoming January adventures!

Of Hope

{Narcissus - a flower of hope, rebirth, and new beginnings}

So begins my reflections of 2009. If anything, this year was not the friendliest to my spirit. However, I found many cheery moments. If anything, this year showed me how lucky I am to have all the people I have found in my life and through this blog! You are all gifts!

So this year and decade draw to a close, and a new time throws back its crisp, fresh curtains to all that lies ahead. This is the part I have been waiting for. I hopeful that this time to come will be my brass ring.

In thinking about these past ten years, these past twelve months, I marvel at all the joys and trials, how they have changed us and how, in some cases, we have refused to change, refused to succumb to things that would cause more harm than good. I think about how I've changed since the start of this decade - in many ways, I started very closed and focused on a few straightforward goals of being a "good girl," studying hard to advance in life, and enjoying a simple, quiet life in the tranquil Maine woods. There were times when I clung to this lifestyle more tightly than I ought - there were times when I should have let go, but I didn't. These small chinks of opportunity were filled whole with my fear of change. I dreaded change as much as I wanted it.

But no more. In this new time, I hope to be more open to change. I will crave it and welcome it. This is a promise I make to myself. A simple resolution I carry in my pocket. I am hopeful! I wish you all, dear friends, hope and joy for your own lives in the coming time!

A Holiday At Home

My Christmas was simple, quiet, and full of family love. I just love being home. Even now I am sitting at dining room table, typing away while my mom makes a delicious stew from our leftover Christmas turkey. The winter sun is setting behind the trees, sending a soft light through the window pane. It feels just like it once was - when I was younger and this home was the only world I had ever known. This is what the holidays are meant to be - a coming home for a momentary visit to what was. It's like a hug from the universe, telling you that everything will be alright and refreshing your spirit to take on the coming year. It is wonderful.