Thursday, December 20, 2007

silent night...

On Saturday I'll celebrate the Winter Solstice with a group of very close friends. After a year of waiting, the mead we added our magic to last Yule will be unveiled! A great time will be had by all, no doubt.

But... (and you knew there had to be a but, didn't you?) at this time of year, as I have for the last 20, I find myself missing the quiet that is the hush of freshly fallen snow and the cold crisp air that is a northern winter. There was something special about celebrating the return of the light then. 

Some of my favorite winter memories are stringing lights on the evergreens that were in front of the house with my dad (and with that, Dad, I still miss you but know you're out there, somewhere)... building snowpeople... building snow forts... cross-country skiing when I got older. There was a peacefulness, a calm. 

As I've said said many times, nature is my temple. I feel best when outdoors -- in my tiny butterfly garden, in a park, in the Everglades. I miss peace and quiet, with the only sounds those of nature. Right now I'd be really glad for a few hours in a snowy wood, watching cardinals, bluejays and other woodland creatures carry on their day. 

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