What I Did (and didn’t) Do Over Christmas Break…

I finished 2011 with a yawn. You could almost view it as a bon-bon on the couch type of finish. I didn’t intend it to be that way, but nonetheless, that’s how it ended and I’ve decided that’s all right. 

The university was closed from December 22^nd until Jan 3^rd, which gave me 12 days of home time to work through THE LIST.  Those who know me know how much I love my “to do” lists.  This one was massive.  A couple of random items were:

·         Clean out closets

·         Finish an abandoned picture album project

·         Major basement organization sweep

·         Start a blog

·         Pull out writing projects from over the years and review them

·         Rearrange kitchen cupboards

·         Stock freezer with soups, lasagna, dinners, etc.

Well, you get the idea.  The actual list probably totaled about twenty items.  What it didn’t include were everyday tasks of meals, cleaning, shopping, etc and of course totally discounted the two holidays that fell within those 12 days. 

It was a list to be reckoned with.  Of course I didn’t plan on the epic "Amy End of Year Stall of 2011.” What happened? 

I read.  A lot.  I curled up with the lap throw Steve got me for Christmas last year from Pottery Barn that’s like covering myself in warm butter.  I sometimes read two books a day on my Kindle.  A couple nights I stayed up until 2 or 4 am to finish a story.   

A few days Steven ran errands and I went with him.  Sometimes we’d be gone the whole day – sometimes a couple hours.  The first day it happened I thought about THE LIST and what I wasn’t getting done.  Then I let it go and enjoyed my time with him.  A lot.

The 2^nd anniversary of my dad’s passing was on Dec 26^th.  I thought of him.  A lot.  I’d brew a pot of Constant Comment tea with my German Cane Rock sugar from Abram and think about my mom and dad – both of them having passed in 2009.  I thought about their life together, the people they were outside being my parents, my life with them and my life without them. Those were some emotional hours.

I spent time on the computer.  Yes - a lot of time.  I started with my favorite author’s websites and their blogs and happily clicked away for hours on their links.  It took me to a few pearls that I plan to follow regularly.  That was on THE LIST – an accomplishment!

Sleeping in isn’t something I’m often found doing, but there were days my feet didn’t hit the floor until after 9:30!  Those late nights reading and emotional days took a bit of a toll, but were well worth it.  They gave me days that I allowed myself to just continue in slow fashion.  It was odd to not rush to catch up on my time lost in sleep.  On top of that, I took a few naps with Steven.  Quite a few of them.  Now I understand the value those little siestas can bring.

Hit another accomplishment on THE LIST with my blog.  Time spent on that?  A lot.  And I couldn’t be happier about it.  Technically, it didn’t start until the 2012, with my first post on January 1^st, but the prep time was all 2011. 

So what got done in my 12 days of Christmas break?  In between the hours I’ve already described, I got a few list items done, managed my day to day activities, had good friends over for dinner, and was lucky to have two relaxing holidays with my family. 

Doesn’t sound like a yawn, but it was for me.  My 2011 wrap up was a good thing.  I stopped.  I spent time with and thought of the people I love.  I rested and laughed and cried and ate and drank….all the while recharging myself to start 2012 in a good place.  Right here, in my own little corner.