You Can Ring My Bell

New Year's tidings to our GBC group and to the others of you who check in from time to time.  I hope as you reflect back on the year, you remember fondly at least one good book, a glass of reading water enjoyed with friends, and that one thing that you did that scared you to death.  I hope you recall smiles and new journeys and pause to consider how fortunate that we all really are.

[I also hope that if you happen to be sick, you have a bell.]

May 2013 be bright, full of warm love, tender moments, lots of laughter, a few new challenges, [the Oxford comma,] and the resounding belief that anything is possible.

Happy New Year, friends. xo

Hark, Joy, Wishing you...

Despite the craziness that is the week before Christmas, I had a few moments of genuine bliss:

• surprising a few (former) neighbors by returning to town to join a party
• hugging everyone at the event more than once (tightly)
• singing perhaps a bit off key (loudly)
• having a photo made with my favorite doppelganger of all time and still having someone confuse us when she entered the room
• walking the streets just any way we wanted (but not loose)
• "performing" for Joy Williams at one of the restaurants, though I only know that via someone else.  (I'm the worst to identify all the songwriters and singers here)
• talking about life and having someone ask me aloud the hard question I've been asking myself for a year (I still don't know the answer and this wasn't exactly bliss but it was probably good for me)
• helping the youngest member of the GBC find a chair for a gingerbread snack
• exchanging presents (books of course!) with GBC P@1ge at 5:45 a.m. when both of us were still half asleep 

Hugs to all and Merry Christmas greetings!  I plan to take a bit of a writing break during the season but I'll be back at least once more before the calendar turns the page.  Wishing you safe journeys, peaceful moments, and lots of smiles along the way.  If you're lucky, perhaps you'll get mobbed by a group of accordion-accompanied rogue carolers who fancy reading water and singing.

Kind-red Spirits

It's the kind of stormy morning when you want to sleep in but instead get up for a bit of yoga, present wrapping and a cafe con leche.

It's the kind of afternoon where you take a few hours off and make a road trip to sing and drink reading water with your friends.

It's the day of the week where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope your day is a good one.

The Seen Scene

I've already admitted I'm behind in reading, however it seems I'm not doing too terribly bad with my movie watching (over the course of 2012).  With a bit of a break coming up, I'm certain there is time to view a more.

Here's one of many (many) articles and lists to be published on the Top films of the year, courtesy of the New York Times:  25 Favorites From a Year When 10 Aren’t Enough by A.O. Scott.

How many have you seen?