As I type away, chestnuts roast in the kitchen (not on an open fire, but still). This holiday season I’m filled with an unusual sense of cheer, along with some extra gratitude. The past year was a turning point for me, confirming change occurs quickly when fueled by a strong intention. Twelve months ago I wrote my resolutions for 2011, most conveying a wish to express myself more fully and visibly.
In January, I began writing this blog, peeking out from behind my hands and the creative closet I locked myself in long ago. While I flinch at the new gray hairs I’m sprouting, I’m happy to report my balls are also growing with age.
Life is surely short (and as sweet as we make it). One day I’m sitting around a family tree, unwrapping plentiful presents, while Mawmie’s meatballs simmer on the stove…
And the next day I’m on a bus called the Mars Hotel, with a teary-eyed mother who sings Songs of Freedom with Bob Marley, while a man named Lightning puffs away at a pipe as we abandon “normality” to make breakfast in the buff and eat carob on a commune….
Life’s path is unpredictable. Who knows what the next chapter will bring? Wherever the journey takes me, I hope to flow freely with the current, and enjoy the ride.
So on this Re-New year, I continue to pray for peace on earth, and keep the battle cries of Choid in check; I wish for more adventure; an open and willing heart; good health (physically, emotionally and otherwise); patience with imperfection; trust in uncertainty; acceptance of what is…and all this with even bigger balls.
Sharing stories with you has not only been deeply liberating, but one of the greatest things I’ve ever done. I extend a heartfelt thank you for tuning in, showing up, and sharing back!
May you and your families experience the special spirit of Christmas, and enjoy a blessed year ahead, filled with beautiful surprises.
Here’s to 2012 – a toast to my dear ol’ (and new) friends!
More tales to come……
With every part and all my heart,
Adele
Handy Tips
Ah heck, deck the halls, it’s Christmas and time for a drink!
What better way to celebrate (or deal with your in-laws) than with a lively libation? The holidays are made especially cheery by the sounds of clinking cocktail glasses.
Usually, I drink wine, but ever since a very dear friend introduced my mother and me to this beautiful beverage last time we visited San Francisco, we’ve both been hooked!
It’s fresh, exotic and easy. My kinda’ guy…I mean, cocktail.
Pear Martini
Ingredients (one cocktail):
1 ½ part elderflower liqueur – (St. Germaine from France is delicious, though costs about 4 times more than Thatcher’s Organic Artisan Liqueurs.
1 ½ part pear vodka (I personally prefer Absolut)
¼ – ½ part fresh lime juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled sugar-rimmed Martini glass and enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your stories and your thoughts, Adele. Your blog is a must-read for me each and every time you post. It’s been great getting to know you via the blog and I look forward to chatting face-to-face in 2012.
Happy Holidays, Gator! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and all your familial parts. I’m so glad you came out of the closet, well, you know what I mean. It seems the perfect season to quote Jacob Marley in that if I someday I wear the chain I forged in life, I suspect many of the best links will have your name on them.
I can attest that this pear-elderflower-lime juice martini is indeed fresh, exotic and easy. My kinda girl…I mean cockta…who am I kidding, I mean girl.
I’m LOL’ing – (an abbreviation that became acceptable and even cool to me only after used it). You ARE my kinda’ girl!
It’s been a wonderful year reading your blogs Adele! Looking forward to seeing how it grows in 2012!!! And by the way – HOT PICS my friend!! xoxoxo Lynn
Being that you, Lynn, were the person who suggested I write the darn blog, I send special thanks your way. And I’ll work on acting a bit sooner in the future 😉
As usual you bring a smile to my face. I’m so glad you followed your heart and started your blog. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas. I truly treasure my friendship with you xx
Julie, meeting you mate has been one of the biggest blessings of this blog! Wishing you and your family a wonderful warm Aussie Christmas! XO
Nancy, thank you so much for the steadfast support you’ve shown me for MANY years. Sending love and a big MAWAH back! XO
Linda Binker! I would LOVE to see you, Frank, Dittle and Schmittle and Shabeeeeeega!! I promise to get out there again, and in the meantime, know you’re always welcome in So Cal. You are one of the most treasured memories I have from the past. The time we spent together was some of the most fun (and funny) I’ve had this lifetime 😉 I miss you and the whole gang (including Mickey McCarthy McDonald). Give Frank and the girls a big hug from me! Love you all XO
i could not have said it better myself. thanks adele for all you have given to your readers (me included) it is not easy to open up one’s heart like that, but so therapeutic for all of us. i love it and always look forward to your new blogs. they brighten my day and also make me really delve into myself and think about things that i probably only do in therapy!! they allow me to stop and take stock of my life and childhood also. what always surprises me, pleasantly so, is that there has never been a blog that i have not been able to relate to some part of. i love that! happy holidays to you and your gorgeous hands (and the rest of you including your sexy husband too) oh, and the royal poochness. you must blog about her too sometime soon. and lest we forget crazy marvin. sending love and many mwahs. nancy
Delli – Love you so much and am so impressed that your humor has matured and beautified as much as you. You are so funny- and always were. Thank you for sharing from the heart (and parts). If you get brave enough and come to Maui, give us a ring. Would love to see you, cheers, linda, frank, dittle and schmittle and shabeeeeeeeega!!!
Merry Christmas, Adele. I share your wishes for the new year. You and your writing make my life so much sweeter. xoxo
I agree wholeheartedly! This is one of the greatest things you could have EVER done! Only because you’re the “part” that makes it great! It’s been such a pleasure getting to “know” you, laugh with you, share a tear ot two with you…
I cannot wait to see what 2012 brings 🙂
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
DD xxoo
Adele,
Entertaining and vulnerable…a greater combination of two things does not exist. Thank you for being a lovely example of both. Happy New Year!
Ty, I admire you so much, and as a writer. Thank you so much my friend.
Ms Sophie, I’ll try to keep it ‘”sweet” as you stay magical.
DD, stay warm in all that snow. I’m so glad I met you too! Thank you for everything xo
Elderflower Liqueur – it must be an Adele holiday cocktail. Happy Happy lady!
Such a beautiful bow tied on the tail of 2011!
It’s been a blessing to have had a front row seat to your unfolding. And my wish to you is that you keep jumping where there is no net to catch you.
The unpredictability of life is what makes it so joyful.
Chip Chop (aka Adele), I am so very grateful you brought your creativity and humor out of the closet! I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures, past and present, in 2012! xo
I am so happy to be a part of your circle of friends on FB and Twitter. You are an amazing woman and it warms my heart when I read your blog. It is nice to kmnow that people out there still pray for world peace. I think a lot of people have given up on the idea. I also pray for world peace and peace within my family which is very hard to come by my family doesn’t talk things out and I have a brother who is schizophrenic and due to a brain tumor I am mentally 14 years old so it is so hard to deal with at times and trying to cope and understand can be like trying to break a brick wall with my fist reading your blog cheers me up. I hope all goes well for you in the new year. I wish you all the best in all your endeavors
Hey Jayme, thanks so much for your continual sweet support. I love hearing from you, and also appreciate you being part of my wonderful circle of cyber-friends. I’m wishing you and your brother and entire family a bright and blessed re-New year! All the best and even more to you my friend x
Awesome blog! So happy I checked you out today. Oh, the picture under Mawmee’s tree….where have all our babies gone?! How have I missed that great cocktail? I’m on the list for next time. Keep on blogging; you’re the best!