Sisters, Holiday traditions and Miracles...

Kendra visited from Colorado this week. I had the pleasure of spending time with her during her last two days in CT. There was a wine tasting party at our place Thursday night which proved that your best customers are your buzzed customers- ha ha... We all got very giddy and ordered several bottles of wine from the catalogue. Kendra and I turned in early as Friday was our day of adventure. Due to the ice storm, we didn't travel far. We didn't have to! We always have an amazing time together. We did not have our usual elaborate breakfast due to the depleting funds spent holiday shopping. So we did the next best thing and hit up D & D for some coffee and bagels. Kendra had never been to Christmas Tree Shops so we stopped by there and I loaded up on wrapping paper, gift bags, and some beautiful picture frames. Next we had a quick ziti and salad lunch a mi casa (leftovers from the wine party). We ventured over to Melinda's so that K could meet Baby Frank. What a gorgeous bouncy lil' tike he is!!! We finally made it to the much anticipated exploration of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Kendra had been before but I had never visited. What a jewel in our capitol city? There was a Surrealist exhibit. We stood in the presence of amazing original art from Dali, Picasso, and Max Ernst. We admired the work for hours. To add to the day, it was a pleasure to bump into one of my old and favorite professors – Dr. Mary Jane Eisen. I took her Gender & Aging course. She was an awesome educator and a great encouragement to me.

Finally, the highlight of this season so far, was when Kendra, Brenda, and I went to dinner Friday night. These women have remained constant in my life and they are my “sisters”. They mean the world to me. We went to Tisane in W. Hartford. It’s this brilliant tea and coffee place. They have fondue and incredible apps and martinis. We laughed and caught up all night. A couple sitting next to us somehow joined in on the conversation and invited us to their New Year's Eve/30th birthday bash. The funniest thing that happened was when this other woman approached our table and asked about our dessert. She was a chocoholic wanting a fix and had never sampled fondue. I called her the “virgin fondue lady”. We told her that we were regulars and that’s why there was a picture of us on the ledge by our booth. I had actually given Brenda and Kendra each a photograph of the three of us at my 30th birthday. There was one frame on the table and the other on the ledge. The lady believed us for a moment. This may sound like a “you had to be there" moment but honestly, it was pretty hilarious. It goes down as, once again, another amazing night out with my sisters.

Tonight, I watched a Christmas movie called “Noel” with my family. It stars Penelope Cruz and Susan Sarandon. It’s a beautiful story of faith and hope and everyday miracles. I watched it last year and wanted to share it with my family. My brother and I also put ornaments on my parents’ tree. It is full and smells so fresh. My mom loves real trees. Although my brother and I no longer live with my parents, it has become tradition for us to decorate the tree. Kevin got way into the spirit when he sported his Santa hat. Little brother copy cat!!! : )

As I write out the last of my greeting cards, I am reminded of those who I do not get to see nor even speak with throughout the year. I wonder about what goes on in their lives and hearts. I miss all of them. I love my family and friends scattered around the globe.
The comfort I find this season is that while it is difficult, for whatever reason, to reach out to those certain individuals…comfort? – no…miracle…is that I can imagine a time and place when once we were together; where there was no distance in between, no pain even – simply smiles or moments of togetherness. Those moments – okay, even some filled with sorrow but with hands held or shoulders to lean one’s head on - they remain still in that moment of time – but not forgotten. They go on in my heart. Forever.