just suppose I'm juxtaposed with you

[tactisle]

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to this notion of a "voyeur Santa" that's crept into my head a month or so ago. The image of the Jolly Old Elf who didn't actually deliver presents -- who never was the one to deliver presents -- but traveled the world on this night of nights to bear witness of us humans' capacity for turning practical

Comments

[barking_iguana]

Merry Christmas!

Oh, and I imagine him returning to his glacial fastness for another year's nap Long Island for his gig as Callahan, warmed with the knowledge that humans still know gratitude, that they still know generosity.

[tactisle]

Hahaha! Yeah, I think Spider and I probably feel similarly on the subject.

Oh, and by the way, did I ever get back to you with my "yes" about the 30th? If not, I meant to. Tell me where and when, and I'll be there.

the light comes back

[auroramama]

The light comes back. It's the hardest thing to believe sometimes. But it's OK. It still works, even if you don't believe in it. (Like the open-label placebo study that came out recently?)

I'm glad you're feeling that restlessness to do more. Don't push too hard at first, though, if you're like me and get the restlessness back while your strength isn't fully restored yet. Gently does it.

[onecrazymother]

I had to take breaks reading this, to wipe tears away. The climactic trans-siberian orchestra Christmas music in the background may have amplified the effect. I was going to post a link saying, "This is the best thing on Livejournal today --- spread the word," until I read the more personal bit at the end, and maybe you don't want me to try to make hundreds of strangers come read this... but yeah. Good insight, well said.

And yeah, riffs. Open house with cookies and a recently tuned piano over here... today we've got some triple chocolate orange dream cookies you really might like to try.

[onecrazymother]

1cmf points out that the personal bits at the the end speak to how we all feel at one time or another, and suggests I follow my first instinct. May I with your blessing?

[tactisle]

Absolutely. And thanks! (1cmf hit the nail on the head; I meant to convey the personal part as something we all feel from time to time, a life-scale variation on the theme of celebrating coming out of the Longest Night again. I intended for anyone to be able to see it.)

[onecrazymother]

excellent!

[bubblebabble]

Miss you too!

[catling]

*love* This is a beautiful post, thank you. Miss you!

I haven't been as good to my people as I wish, either. I get in the zone, in the academic study hole and there are times when I snarl at anyone or anything that tries to drag me out for a break, "No! Must work! No time for anything but the books and papers and brain stuffing, dammit!" Them as love me seem to understand it, and dammit, that 4.0-3.9 I've maintained for going into the second year now is important to me, and becoming a true science nerd at last is a peculiar pleasure I'd not trade in.

But. This year, 2011, I'd like to find a better balance with the academic work and the love. To be kind and loving to my loved ones even when I have three papers due in a week. Etc.