Happy Winter Solstice

This evening I will celebrate with an old friend who is in assisted living with Stage 4 Cancer having been diagnosed 4 or 5 years ago now. We will share an hour of no phones, no TV, meditate, light candles (LED candles as no fires of any kind are allowed in her place), maybe sing together. We'll drink some sparkling juice, eat traditional Scottish shortbread and welcome the coming light. In ten days I will go out and cut some forsythia branches and watch them come into bloom indoors as a sign that spring will soon be here -- even though today is the first day of winter. I hope you are all settling for the long winter's night, enjoying the dark time and looking forward to the coming light.

December 9, 2010 Christmas Spirit update

I'm forcing myself to get into the holiday spirit. I have made plans to celebrate Winter Solstice (my favorite winter holiday) with my friend. We will light LED candles (she can't have real candles in her assisted living joint) have some sparkling cider and talk about writing and the goddess until late in the night (9pm). Last night I sang carols with my teenage grandson -- I knew the tunes, even if I didn't remember the lyrics. All those years in Sunday School ground those tunes in deep. He has never even heard most of them having been raised in non religious households and schools. He has been going caroling with his choir groups this year though and is learning some, so we did our best. Also, I have now shopped for two people. Yay! Three more to go. One is a Visa card, she knows that. One is books. What to get my son who needs everything? hm. Also, I may wrap up some of my own abundance and send it to my faraway friends who don't really need anything, but who doesn't like to get packages in the mail? Yes, I'll wrap and mail those gifts tomorrow.

First bit: Happy Winter Solstice 2008!

Portland, Oregon looks more like Portland, Maine this morning. This is the eighth day of real winter weather, and the shortest day, longest night. Time for deep thoughts and reflections on the coming year.
On Christmas Eve, I will broadcast my "Christmas at the TNT Truckstop" on PIVTR, International Internet Radio, 6:30 to 7:30pm PST, www.pivtr.com. There will be an interview, live call in 866-977-4887 and broadcast of the radio play.
In January I begin a weekly broadcast of live reading of my memoir "Poor Little Thing: Growing Up Too Fast in Rural Missouri". I'll read it in 30 minutes bits from page one until I finish. Again, I'll have live call in after each reading for your feedback and questions.
Blogging seemed a good way to prepare for doing live radio and live readings. I hope you'll join me in this journey, both here and on the air! sdh