Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Farewell, 2010

A trip to New Mexico the week before Christmas obliterated all thoughts of blog posting, of work, of being productive in any way. I arrived as I have so many times before - tired, hungry, and in need of some serious rest. I had only two things on my agenda: the annual solstice party I've attended for over 25 years with my close friends, and a Christmas eve party with a group of people I've known for almost as long. The rest was unimportant.

The weather cooperated. It was cloudy for much of the time -- unusual for New Mexico at any time of the year. The winds were ferocious. One day, we had snow flurries, which prompted me to build a fire in the kiva fireplace in the living room. I sat in front of it all day and read "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" by Betty Smith. I've known about that book all my life, and if they made a film of it, I probably saw it. But this was the first time I read it, and what a rich and rewarding read it is. It's the kind of writing we don't see much of anymore - subtle and nuanced, rich in it's descriptions, and a story where not much "happens". No shootings, no drug busts, no gangs, no jet setting around the world - just life as it was lived in the early part of the 20th century in Brooklyn.

So I end 2010 with a wish for all of us: That 2011 brings us all the food we'd care to have on our tables, and enough left over to donate to those less fortunate. All the clothing we need to keep us warm in the winter, with enough left over to give to those who have less. And the warmth of family and friends to light our hearts for the entire year, no matter what the weather. May you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

11 comments:

Penny said...

Happy New Year Toni. I look forward to reading your posts in 2011. You have inspired me to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Beautiful wishes for the new year. From my pantry to yours, I wish you the same.

Toni said...

Penny - I hope you love it as much as I have been.

Lydia - Thanks!

Christo Gonzales said...

I wish you a happy and generous new year....

Cynthia said...

Lots of love and a blessed New Year!

Susan said...

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" always makes me so sad, as good as it is.
The world is changing still - would love to hold onto what my grandparents knew.

Happy New Year, Toni!

Toni said...

Christo - And the same to you! Thanks for visiting my blog. I know I'll be visiting yours again many times during this year.

Cynthia - The same to you, my friend!

Susan - For some reason, it doesn't make me sad. I get sad sometimes when I realize what we've all lost as time keeps rolling forward, but forward it rolls, and we all roll with it.

Happy New Year to you!

Thistlemoon said...

Happy New Year to you Toni! Hope this year is better than ever!

Unknown said...

Reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" was a tradition for me in the days after Christmas when I was in college and home for the holidays. It is the perfect book to read this time of year, somehow. Reminds me that I have a secondhand copy of "Joy in the Morning" that I must read some winter weekend.

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

Happy new year, Toni! Sounds like you had a wonderful time in your beloved New Mexico. And your own brand of not much "happens" writing is always so cozy to read.

Katie Zeller said...

I hope you have a very Happy and Healthy 2011... What a gorgeous photo!