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As I take another day to recover from the busy weeks of Christmas before I find words again…let me present:

Our house tonight.

Can you guess what Mr. Darcy got for Christmas?

Although I’ve shared few words here over the past busy week, my heart and mind have been working overtime.

It’s 1am, time to tuck in before 6 feet and 3 anxious bodies come running.

Quiet and peace have arrived, the waiting is almost over.

Last night Mr. Darcy when out in the shadowy, chilled night to retrieve the trashcans from the curb.  Somehow, as if by a small voice inside him, he noticed by the light of the street lamp a transparent plastic bag with a card and rock in it.  When he brought it inside and and pulled the card out we found this:

Even more curious we opened the card.

That’s right! Holiday cheer spread from our trash man, what an unexpected source of holiday cheer.  How thoughtful of him and think of all the families that were smiling after they headed out to the mundane task of bringing in the trashcan.

The kids and I are already planning how we can give a card to him on his next pick-up day.  I hope we’re not the only ones.

I am a sun vampire.

I can survive without it, but only as a darkened version of myself.  And when I say darkened, I mean grumpy.  Not in a cute dwarf-with-a-long-beard kind of grumpy, but the kind where my kids start giving each other warning looks.

There have been about 7 dark days in a row here, due to the menacing sky with its endless rain plus that horrid daylight saving time that makes it midnight at 4:15. This has to be the worst year since I moved here almost 10 years ago. It’s the first year I’ve asked Mr Darcy to move me somewhere that has summer, fall, and spring, but no winter.  I’ve had friends offer suggestions, a coping list for the next 3 months(3 months sounds like infinity). Extra vitamin c supplements, one friend recommended, and another offered a trip to the tanning salon.

Then, mercy, food for the vampire.

When I woke this morning, the sun was merrily greeting the yellow walls.  My skin already looked less translucent and I hadn’t even left the bedroom. Suddenly I was a disney character with the birds ready to light on my shoulder(if the windows had been open or if we had pet cockatoos) and the music almost visible as I moved(or it was my 4 year old with the drum sticks). Whatever was happening, my children looked cuter and my house not so much a monster designed to trap me in with chores.  Yes, it was still cold, but give me a scarf any old day as long as it’s accompanied with that great big ball of instant nourishment.

That was today.  But if tomorrow and the following days lead me back to, you know, the d-word, don’t be surprised to find me with a vitamin c charged orange juice tube in my veins and a magnificent natural bronze glow from Suntan City. It’s not just for myself, but for those that love me too.

It’s been a long week at our house. Sickness slowly passing from one child to the next, like watching milk inch across a tablecloth.  Add to that a wintry dull mix outside with no sun in sight to bring relief, and you’ve got itchy children and a very antsy mama.

I was holding out for Saturday.  A morning friend date to go shopping for some sparkling hot-mama clothes and a full on date with Mr. Darcy, Christmas party included, for Saturday night. Friday evening found the next morning’s plans canceled.  I saw in front of me another long day of being in the house, with the usual excursion to the grocery store. Saturday afternoon found a very cute and equally fussy baby who was breaking in a tooth. Cancel date in sparkly clothes, pencil in another 5 hours in, that’s right, the house.

This story ends well though.  Partly because Mr. Darcy is a patient man who could see I was feeling pinned down and he tried to build a little space around me. He gave me his understanding, and he brought me a Christmas tree. Secondly, because I have cool kids.  They adapted quickly to the change of plans for the evening and threw themselves into finding the perfect tree to bring home to mommy.  The lights, the candy canes, it brought back the old magic.  (It’s only honest to add that 3 strands of lights ended up dead and only the top of the tree is lit at the moment).  To fan the flame of magic that had begun, Mookie and I sat down at bedtime to read the first chapter of my favorite book.  She’s finally old enough to experience it with me, curled in our reading spot, something for just the two of us.

The other element that saved the night from crashing from bad to worse was a time to create.  Design, cut, arrange, paste, sit back and enjoy the creation while peeling the glue from my fingers.  It opens up my breathing, loosens my jaw, helps me to feel sane again.

Now if only I can figure out how to craft a sun of light and warmth and health for the rest of the winter months.

Note: The festive recycled cardboard wreath above was inspired by the idea found here and here.