Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Somehow it's easy to think these phrases trite. The Sound of Music is a darling movie, and Julie Andrews seems like Mary Poppins in real life. (I think Christopher Plummer said working with her was like getting hit over the head with a valentine.) But I think it behooves us to think twice about the story, and the times, and the reality. And remember just how many reasons those children, some on the cusp of maturity, some still small, had to need their spirits lifted. War, and loss, and change, and grief. Sometimes it comes across as fear of thunder or the dark, but we all know how those are often lumped together with loneliness and uncertainty; with a longing to be loved, and to belong.
Brown paper packages tied up with string
It may be a musical, and a little heavy on the singing-through-meadows. But the principal is the same as I speak of so often here. Whatever you choose to call it: working on your "pile of good things", counting your blessings, a thousand gifts, a few of your favorite things, or these I have loved.
Silver white winters that melt into springs
We close our eyes and remember beauty, and what we hold dear, and the things unseen.
Wild geese that fly with a moon on their wings
There may be a lot of ugliness to be seen these days. Even when I look inside. But I will declare, when I don't feel it: glory is coming, hope is real, God is good, and He will never leave me alone.
And Maple trees are magic
White roses with eucalyptus is breathtaking
Baths are soothing
Soup is cozy
And I will share with you some Favorite Things that I've been collecting. Even some that I'm not in the right mood for at the moment, but have given me great joy in recent past. I hope you find things to add to your collection.
This is a delightful read, would be a splendid audiobook, and BBC even did a radio dramatization of it, (but I don't think that's still available). Mary Stewart is in class by herself in terms of setting, subtle mystery and intrigue, and tasteful romance. She would be classed as mid-century middle-brow, I believe, but gets full marks from me on quality, writing, and atmosphere. You'll see many of her books in my reading piles, both new and as yearly rereads.
I'll bet you didn't even know that was a thing, but it is my new favorite subgenre. Classic, vintage, jazzy tunes, as Lofi remixes. Can you get a genre more me? I think not. I commend it to the house.
The 26th birthday party I threw for myself was crazy memorable and all kinds of fun. And it was captured brilliantly by my brother Will. Check out his youtube too, it's very cool.
For just a little faith in humanity, something good in this technological age, a bit of a throwback, and some laughter thrown in... Carpool Karaoke with Paul McCartney is just what the doctor ordered.
Some ambience to soothe the soul. "Whether you liked food or sleep or story-telling or singing (or reading), or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness. ... Evil things did not come into the secret valley of Rivendell."
See you again soon. Let me know what's bringing you joy this week. Get some more people in your canoe when the going gets heavy, that's what I'm doing.
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