Tender Catalogue
Winter Solstice Edition
I have turned on my little electric fireplace in our apartment, brewed a pot of coffee to provide my husband when he wakes up, lit the Christmas tree and turned on soft instrumental music that soothes my insides. I am also drinking from a mug I got last December 26th for $10. The small golden dots don’t fully align with the green lines of the tree, like there was perhaps a mistake when creating the mug. But I love it because it looks like the tree is surrounded by little floating lights. Happy Winter Solstice!
As I have done a couple times in the past few years, I am going to catalogue some recent tender moments. It’s like clockwork inside me this time of year to reflect on tender moments from the last month and pen them all to fully feel the ache and longing of the season before more light returns.
Tender Catalogue
watching my 4 year old nephew’s winter concert who is up there wearing a sweater with Christmas trees on it and all of them quietly shake their little bells and do little actions to a song about a snowman
following the concert I run into a grandpa of a patient I see, and he tells me how far his grandson has come and wishes me happy holidays
trying homemade borscht soup for the first time with people I was aching to be friends with a year ago, and now I am. the crimson colored soup turns a pleasant pink when adding a generous dollop of sour cream
holding my friend’s baby and suddenly all my anxieties quiet, and the baby falls asleep on me, creating a gentle calming weight
setting up a small “winter mouse” I bought at a Scandinavian shop that dons a little knit sweater and wooden skis
receiving a snowman mug from a 4 year old patient that he said he picked out himself
setting up my late aunt’s santa on the window sill that has such a kind and gentle face and seems to see the very best in the world around me
watching my favorite Norwegian Christmas show with my husband, and then watching him eagerly don the woolen norwegian style sweater I gift to him
Wishing you light and peace this winter solstice.
For more tender catalogues see new places to ache and tenderness of twinkle lights.
love,
B
