“There is not a partcile of life
which does not bear poetry within it.”
- Gustave Flaubert

It is a strange thing when someone you know passes away.

When someone you worked with every single day, someone who sent you emails even when you weren’t at work, someone who you interacted with every single day passes away, you feel like you lost something.  Even if you weren’t close, even if you guys did little more than work side-by-side, you still feel a loss.

It’s just a very strange way to start a week.

Please think of the Fletcher family in your prayers this week.

“You’ll see him on the tv, any given Sunday,
Win the Superbowl and drive off in a Hyundai.
She was s’posed to buy ya shorty TYCO with ya money,
she went to the doc and got lipo with ya money.
She walkin’ round lookin’ like Michael with ya money.
You shoulda gotten that insured with Geico wit ya money.”
- “Gold Digger”, Kanye West

 

This weekend was nice.  Very holiday-ish, which I needed.

Friday night, I went to a fantastic party at my manager’s house, and she did a lovely job of making us all welcome.  The beautiful Kari was there (and she will be graduating with her Master’s Degree on Friday, so props to her!) and I got to meet her mother, who was a lot of fun.  I stayed out waaaaay too late and had a half a bottle of merlot (Kari and I nursed it all night), then came home and passed out next to my husband.

Saturday was also Christmasy, with gingerbread house-building.  I think we’re going to get two kits next year: one of The Boy to just go crazy on, and one for Bryan and I to do that we can put out.  The two do not mix well.  After we finished cleaning up the major icing incidents, we headed over to Steph’s for her annual Luminaries party.  The Boy and BB played for an hour or two while we enjoyed the homemade eggnog and company.  It was nice and warm.  Then we all bundled up to walk the luminary trail, enjoying the Tour of Homes downtown and the open house at Harrison Brothers.  It was just a great Huntsville night, the kind that make you so grateful for all that you have.

After we left downtown, we had one more stop to make: Horseshoe Bend.  Although this had been an annual tradition of mine for years, I introduced The Boy and Bryan to it last year.  Yes, we’re the people who park and walk the street.  And my favorite part is that there is a family who does a talking reindeer head every year.  Across from the head is a giant wall where kids get to write their name (so the ‘voice’ can know the kid’s name), and it gets The Boy.  Every year.  It is the highlight of his Christmas, the talking deer head.  This year, though, one of the home owners passed away, and the street is much darker.  There is no bubble machine, there are no lit snowflakes across the sky.  It’s somewhat sad.  The Boy didn’t notice, though; he was just on Cloud 9 that he got to talk to the deer head.

Sunday, I walked.  A lot.  I walked to the VBC, since I had to pick up hats for baby Scout (Ra, they are so cute.. Jess outdid herself), but there wasn’t anyone there yet.  So I walked to Kevin’s house, but it was early for him to be awake, so I didn’t knock.  So I walked to Steph’s house, but they were still at church.  Then I walked around to all the churches downtown so I could hear their choirs.  Then I went and picked out houses in the historic district (I found ours on Clinton).  Then I walked home.  Good times.

It’s officially Christmas.  I have two shows ahead of me, our house is lit and decorated, and almost all of my family is home.  I actually have a list of gifts to acquire, and a plan to acquire them.  Our annual Coven Christmas dinner is this Friday.  I have about five working days left till my holiday.  Things are as they should be.

I’m happy.  Content.  And life is good.