The Beginning
This is the week that truly begins my changed daily schedule. I joked with my husband that I’m a part-time student and a part-time personal assistant. As amusing as it is to put it that way, part of me is still sad that I don’t feel comfortable declaring my homemaker status yet. Being just a part-time homemaker is only remotely ‘okay’ if you have children, or belong to a very old, conservative religious tradition (which usually means you will also have children at my age).
New Year’s Day – Personally Speaking
In the last couple of years, I have come to the conclusion that I have kind of ‘lost’ two annual celebrations, but taken hold of two, as well. I am sad to say that I feel as though I’ve lost Halloween, due to an absence of kids in my neighborhood participating (such a shame!). And another regret is how much Christmas has been lost to stress and consumerism.
Steps have been taken to attempt to resurrect these great traditions, but in the meantime, I’m currently focusing on one of the two ‘reclaimed’ celebrations in my holiday lexicon: New Year’s Day.
Travel Prep
I’m back at the beginning. Almost every element of simplicity I used to crave and hope for in my life is now possible – but I think I’m at the ‘packing for the journey’ stage. A few things come first. Number one, we’re in the holidays – so a certain amount of slackitude is to be expected. There’s so much to look forward to!
These holidays lead up to New Year’s Day, which has become increasingly important to me – especially as a time of purging the old and cleaning for the new. It all runs together beautifully. I hope to be better ‘packed’, to keep the metaphor, by the time 2012 truly rolls around.