Everyone is busy. Enough said there. This year I made a point of making sure the people that matter to me were part of my to do list. I started the month off by scheduling lunch with a dear friend and her daughter. We go way, way back. Our friendship has survived living next door to each other as young children, to going out in the world in different directions, to raising families with a city between us, to now enjoying precious hours together now and again. Before the holiday craziness started, I made sure we had a date set so another season didn’t get by us without a visit. The few hours we spent over a long lunch refilled my bucket and gave me energy to continue with the demands of the holiday. Once that item was checked off my list (with a smile), I jumped onto the next friend event and hosted a cozy gathering with my education/book-loving friends. Seven of us gathered for an evening modeled after the Icelandic tradition of Jalabokaflodid (yo-la-book-a-flot) or Christmas Book Flood. We had warm food, talked, laughed, and exchanged books. These friends have shared with me raising of children, working in education, and now writing as a career. It was a perfect Friday the 13th for me. Nothing is better than a cup of tea, a room full of good friends gathered around the Christmas tree, and new books being shared while old ones are remembered. I know there will be time spent with family, but taking the time with friends is also important. There is something magical about being with people you choose to have in your life. If nothing else, my dog enjoyed all the love shared with him. He may be the reason they all came.
12/5
favorite season
packages left at the door
something just for me
12/7
morning messages
delightful visit with friend
sipping tasty treats
12/8
waiting for Santa
plenty of books to choose from
sitting by the tree
12/11
birds sing from above
cattails welcome new day
bunnies hide nearby
12/14
sometimes a high place
is what’s needed to escape
from little sisters
Tiffany Painter 
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