Early December

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Interior with the Artist’s Daughter, by Vanessa Bell, 1935-36

Hello, dear friends,

We are well into the holiday season now. and I wanted to check in and wish you all a very happy season.  I hope you are well and enjoying life and family and good books. And as for the stresses and strains that also seem to be part of the holidays, I wish for you some quiet and some time to just enjoy the present moment.

I feel like I’ve been away forever, and I am hoping to get back to some consistent blogging again. I am getting back to my reading, choosing kind and gentle reads for now. Poetry is a balm for me. Books about grief (some of them), are helpful and appreciated. And when I found a book of poetry about grief that really spoke to my own experience, I was thrilled. Living Without the One You Cannot Live Without, by Natasha Josefowitz, sits beside me right now as my solace and one of my guides through this journey.

Recent fiction reads, such as Farewell to Fairacre, by Miss Read, and The Bookstore Sisters, a short story by Alice Hoffman, have been my bedtime reads. My non-fiction afternoon reading included Michelle Obama’s new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, which I felt was an enriching audiobook to listen to. She is, as always, full of wisdom and compassion, and hope. I really enjoyed it. I also read a library find: A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives, by Lisa Congdon. It was inspiring and I enjoyed each short biography of many different women who found their passions and careers later in life.

After two-and-a-half years of pandemic lockdown and the extra precautions we had to take due to my husband’s cancer, I am beginning to get back to some of my used-to-be normal activities. I have started going back to my exercise class at the gym, although I know that Covid is still here. But I need my exercise friends, the three-day-a-week routine, and the exercise! It’s so nice to be back. I’m also getting back to my morning walks, although the weather always seems to play havoc with that routine at this time of year. And I’m also getting back to my reading. It all feels so good!

 

10 thoughts on “Early December”

  2. The Cue Card

    I’m glad you’re able to get out to do your exercise & be with others again. Covid really kept us all locked up for a long time. You make me want to pick up the new Michelle Obama book which sounds positive … I will add it to my Library list. & just fyi – Someone once gave me a copy of CS Lewis’s book A Grief Observed … which helped me once upon a time with a loss … and might be useful to you as well. the best to you.

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  3. Lesley

    I was happy to see your post in my blog reader, Robin. You’ve been in my thoughts lately. I’m glad you are able to get back to your reading. It’s good that the collection of poetry (which from the publisher’s description sounds like it was written for you) is giving you some comfort.

    I plan to listen to Michelle Obama’s new book. I loved her previous memoir. I’ve enjoyed Ann Patchett’s collections of essays (both These Precious Days and This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage), as well as Erica Bauermeister’s House Lessons.

    I’ll bet it feels good to get back to exercising (and your pals) at your gym. Walking in the fresh air always soothes my worries, but yes, our weather is very fickle this time of year.

    Big hugs and love to you always, dear friend. I’ll be in touch via email. xoxo

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    1. Robin Post author

      Thank you, Les. I’ve put those recommendations on my list, but I’m so slow at getting my books finished these days. Oh well…it’s only time!😉

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  5. Fran Clason

    Hi, Robin. I found you, again! For some reason wasn’t getting notices. Looking forward to catching up on your blogs. It gives me reason to just sit and ponder, as I have a tendency to just be “busy about the work” of living and forgetting to pause and just breathe in some good stuff.

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