The Night Before the Night Before

We Slip Into Ritual (Day 53)

And so, I write this on Christmas eve eve with a variety of last minute preparations, some new, some old, as this curious year winds down.

I’m the last out of our library this day - making sure all the cookies and cinnamon bread and chocolate given to us by our glorious patrons is tucked away, and the thermostat is set just right, and everybody has gotten all their holiday reading. Closing a library for an extended weekend, even if it’s only three days, always feels sad to me. Though technically, we’re never really closed.

My gift shopping is done. I think it’s done. Hmm, I better make sure it’s done. Little Bean’s note to Santa is sitting out on the tree, but she keeps sneaking stuff onto the list, or changing it up. Honestly, I don’t know how Santa keeps up.

Our dog spent the morning at the groomer. He’s a filthy beast, and cares not whether he’s white or muddy. But momma says we have to get the knots out and he can’t keep tracking dirt all over, all the time. So even if it’s for a day, he’ll be Instagram ready.

Try to be like Pip this weekend and chill.

Tutu the elf continues to be up to no good. She ate half of Little Bean’s gingerbread house the other day and ended up barfing it all back up in the toilet. My daughter was mortified. Tutu asked for forgiveness and gave her a bunch of candy canes, so I guess they are friends again.

The week between Christmas and New Year always feels like it exists in a strange nether void, like nobody actually wants to do any work, and you’re cleaning the house all the time and there’s wrapping paper everywhere. It feels like we’re just waiting for Jan. 1 so we can start doing things again. Or doing things right anyway. Until then, its board games and laundry and left-overs. We might see if we can go skating. Maybe we’ll get some Chinese food one day. If I get a nice new pair of socks from Santa I’ll certainly wear them.

Otherwise, we mark the passage of the year with these rituals near the end to bring us into a new reset. The next few days will be casual and hyper and relaxed and full of sugar and tea and hot chocolate.

You’ll be reading this on Christmas Eve and tomorrow we’ll come to you on Christmas Day. But know this, regardless of what you celebrate, or if you don’t, if these few days mean the world, or just mean you have time off to sip coffee, know that you matter to us - if we’re best friends or if we never met, we’ll move forward together. Always forward. Be at peace friends. Let’s see what the next couple days bring us and, as always, thank you for being here. Onward!