Calendar Girl
I love I love I love...calendars
However we mark them, the seasons WILL go by. But it’s human nature (mine, anyway) to want to keep track, in some meaningful way, of time passing.
STENDIG-A CALENDAR THAT MAKES ITS OWN, QUIET STATEMENT
When my dad was a Danish modern sales rep (I mean, Danish modern FURNITURE; Dad was more Irish-American traditional ), he used to bring home the annual Stendig calendars. These were LARGE and had BIG BOLD numbers, very striking. I just looked and whaddayknow—-60 years down the road, they are still making these babies!
Nowadays, I favor wall calendars with breathtaking photographs of distant galaxies from the Webb space telescope, plus a variety of smaller planners. I never gauge the correct size of the squares, so I’m always cramming little notations into tiny spaces, about dentist appts. and upcoming concerts, using an inscrutable shorthand (basically, the dentist appts. and the concerts look exactly the same). But I can’t imagine my life without some form of calendar…
SONG: CALENDAR GIRL BY NEIL SEDAKA
Speaks (sings?) for itself…a “timeless” 1960’s classic from Sedaka:-)
MOVIE TRAILER: CALENDAR GIRLS
This is such a neat, sweet little movie about some British gals-of-a-certain-age who decide to “spice up” their fundraiser for a loved one’s cancer treatments. Fabulous cast including Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and Penelope Wilton! Recommended!
ARTICLE: THE CALENDAR GIRLS’ TRUE STORY
and here’s the inspirational true story on which the film is based, shared on the 25th anniversary of the calendar on the Blood Cancer.UK website.
REMEMBRANCE OF A BLOG POST PAST (PAST POST?)
I’;ve been blogging (Working Title) since November 2011. At a rate of at least one 500 word mini-essay per week, they haven’t all been gems, of course. But I did get a nice response to this one, written in December 2012. That month, you may recall, some folks were quite concerned that the end of the ancient Mayan calendar heralded the—you know—END. As we all know, the world went on, for better and worse…
Have Yourself a Mayan Little Christmas (published 12-20-12)
Don’t know about you, but I’m approaching December 21st with relief. No more trips to the mall for last-minute gifts! No more mall, either! The fact that we have only one pathetic little clump of outdoor lights in one big tree outside will no longer matter. The unwritten and unsent cards—no worries! If the world has to end, what better day than tomorrow? I’m probably as ready as I’ll ever be to arrive at the Pearly Gates (considering I keep committing the exact same sins over and over and I’m not optimistic about change), so bring it on!
I never have been completely ready for Christmas, but sometimes my lack of prep has been comical. As just one example, for years I was included in a neighborhood cookie swap. I am not exaggerating when I say that I never began baking my cookies until the midnight before the party at the earliest. One memorable year I was an hour late for the festivities because the cookies were still in the oven. Nothing says stress quite like racing to an event that late, holding limp bags of hot, crumbly cookies. For some strange reason I was dropped off the invitation list eventually. Whew!
Working in a church means there’s Advent/Christmas craziness too. During the critical week when most people are shopping and decking halls, I am always running a prayer center which requires my constant presence in church daily until 9 PM. I sit in the narthex and stew about what isn’t getting done at home. And now it’s (supposedly) less than a week until our big day (Christmas Eve). By tomorrow, Meg the secretary has to assemble 800 bulletins for 5 different church services. And things could be better for the 4 PM pageant at this point: my Innkeeper just resigned, and I haven’t been able to find a live Baby Jesus. Arrggghhh!!
But wait! Maybe we’re all off the hook! Those prescient Mayans ended their calendar at December 21,, 2012, which to many people automatically means it’s The End, period (and not, perhaps, that the Mayan civilization ended before anyone could update the calendar).
So what am I doing today?
I’m avoiding chores like crazy, because I’d hate to clean the house if it’s all coming to a screeching halt tomorrow. What a waste of energy and furniture polish THAT would be! I plan to consume a 10,000 calorie dinner. I will go to bed without flossing (who needs teeth in the afterlife)?
Seriously, though…
I want to look back on today and know I spent it doing things I loved to do, with people I loved. Prophecies and prognostications aside, we none of us know the End of the Story. Only God does. Meanwhile, I hope I can remember to cherish my life, every minute. And as I pray and pray for the grieving families in Newtown, I give thanks that I am lucky enough to have my kids to hug, even if it’s just for today.
RECIPE: STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
This was THE dessert on 80% of the restaurant menus during our U.K. trip last year, so of course I had to try making it myself when we got home. I will say it is VERY sweet, but delicious…and lest you think I’m straying from this week’s topic, the secret ingredient in this yummy pudding is…wait for it…DATES. Get it?
Photo above is our first sticky toffee pudding ever—at the historic Marquis Pub, Covent Garden, London, one of Charles Dickens’ favorite spots for a pint (and maybe a pudding?)
BLOG PREVIEW: OK KO!
“kō” in Japanese refers to one of their 72(!) annual micro-seasons. Traditionally the Japanese year is divided in 72 five-six day segments, reflecting what’s happening in the natural world —for example, May 21-25 蚕起食桑 Kaiko okite kuwa o hamu (silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves). I say—if the Japanese can enhance the calendar, why can’t I?
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
While the sunflower is not my “signature” flower, as it is for my friend Rachel and several other buddies, it is still very special to me. As these “satellite dishes” follow the sun, I wish you all a bright and sunny week, in every way (mark your calendars!)