January

First, I want to say happy birthday to my Dad! His birthday is tomorrow, the 20th. This was the last page of a story I wrote in 1987, age six, and I love you even more than I did then! Hope your day is relaxing and full of blessing. Wish we could be there to celebrate with you in person, Dad.

So, January. January is an odd month. I've been feeling kind of drab, a sort of post-holiday let down...but there's also a sort of coziness to January- no crazy long lines and last-minute Christmas gift shopping- just winter. It feels kind of nice to stay in (like we're doing tonight), snow piling up outside, drinking wine or tea and listening to the sound of each others' pages turning. James has been reading piles of books on Nathaniel Hawthorne for this semester's course. Hawthorne, who wisely noted that

"It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate."

That's why I hang out with James. It helps to widen my sphere of understanding and experience in this world. (Right. Actually, we hang out because we have precious few other options in terms of social engagement! :) Anyhow, Hawthorne also said that

"The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash."

Well, we're not sure if the cash is going to come flowing in anytime soon, but James is experiencing the pleasurable toil of writing his thesis...much to my gratification and enjoyment. He also promised to write me some poetry in the upcoming weeks...Maybe I'll post some if you're lucky. We visited Hawthorne's home, The Old Manse, in Concord, MA on our honeymoon (I know, I know...). But we loved it. It was all closed up for winter, but we peeked in the windows (James lifted me up), and tried to read (backwards) the words that Hawthorne's wife, Sophia Peabody, had engraved with a diamond on the glass pane of the first story window. It was a very romantic honeymoon day :)
Well, here's hoping your January isn't too drab, and that you're enjoying the hibernation!