On Thursday we went to the park. It was quiet and still, and mild for this time of year (not too far from 50˚). What hit me when we got out of the car was the smell: loamy and damp and fecund, utterly alive. I grinned; I just couldn’t help it. That scent will lighten anyone’s heart. We pootled about along the creek for a while–no fish, birds drowsing in their drowsing places–then headed back to the car. And mist rose out of the ground like something from a bad horror film. Phhoom. One minute clear, the next minute mist a meter deep on the ground–and the air turned cold on the backs of our necks. We went up to the lookout and watched the gulls floating on the sound–no birds were feeling like flying that day–where, again, it was very quiet. Even the water seemed subdued, silky and thin rather than heaving and huge. But there was no sign of mist.
Then we went home, ate lunch, and I wrote 1,500 words of Hild: a rare, serene day for the end of the year.
I hope your days have been equally lovely.
Nicola Griffith 
I'm kind of getting fed up with holiday parties, I'll tell you what. Too much drinking & socializing. & I dread the January New Years Resoluters crowding my gym…
Nicola, you just made my day lovely and serene with this description of the place I love. Thank you. Now off to teach some retired chicks and hand out Christmas hugs.
mordicai, as Nancy Reagan suggested: just say no. As for January resolvers, hey, they won't last into February…
chadao, enjoy.
I was tired of parties a week ago when I had 4 in five days. But last night I felt a bit listless, no plans, no presents to buy or wrap, the family sorted for the evening. So my daughter and I went out on a three store trek to find Xmas crackers for dinner parties next week. It wasn't crowded and we puttered around the baking aisle at Michaels together and bought cheap, pretty ornaments for other people's trees and it felt just as peaceful somehow.
Tonight, the Nutcracker. I'm looking forward to it. Hope the rest of the weekend, and year, stays so lovely for you all.
That kind of smell is one that we don't really have here in SoCal. Not so much lives here – it's just too dry. I noticed it the first day I drove in – no bugs on the windshield. I thought, something is wrong here. But I stayed anyway. And on the plus side, I sat oot in some cloud-filtered sun today and read for an hour or so, it was beautiful.
I always enjoying hearing that you went to the park and what it was like.
I highly recommend holiday music for attitude adjustments during the season.
And don't forget to spike any eggnog you drink at those parties – it's not safe otherwise…
ssas, there are certain frivolities that are deeply human and relaxing.
jennifer, eggnog: shudder. Never liked it. But, oh, the notion of sitting in the sun…won't happen here til May–or maybe April with a good sweater.