Sweden

December Past

~ MaryG ~ 25 Comments

Posting for Lens-Artist Photo Challenge: Holiday Fun

I’m afraid the 2025 holiday season will be forever remembered as the “Year of the Knee.” Arthroplasty is rough, people. My husband is doing OK, but the pain is quite brutal. Thank goodness for opioids. I honestly don’t know how anyone gets through this without a partner. (I know they can and do, but it would be really hard.) Outpatient PT has started and now I get why folks call the PTs “Physical Terrorists.”

But on to happier things…

I have been enjoying looking at the lovely, happy holiday posts and photos from Scillagrace and others.

Last year was such a special Christmas because we had my brand new baby granddaughter—so perfect in every way. After the sting of the horrible election in November 2024, she gave me so much hope. She was—and is—a miracle. All babies are. I thank my wonderful daughter for the greatest gift of all last Christmas. Infants are pure love, pure light, pure joy.

My granddaughter and me last December
Our tree last year
The new mom managed to decorate—and even bake—last year.
Hand-dipped and decorated Oreo cookie balls
White roses for Christmas last year
I got Christmas “crackers” from the British imports store and did special napkin folding last year.

Related post and pics, also from last December:

Winterlights

I hope everyone can find some way to enjoy the season this year, despite whatever pain or hardships burden you. I recommend watching Sweden’s National Santa Lucia Day broadcast this Saturday, December 13. It’s always such a beautiful celebration of light in the darkness, with gorgeous choral music—including young children singing in tune. It’s typically available on YouTube the same day.

December Rx:

Music, lights, babies (if you can’t get your hands on a baby, watching young children sing is a good substitute)

I hope I provide some light

~ MaryG ~ 2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.
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I recently read an interesting article by Adrienne Matei in The Atlantic—The Type of Charisma That Saves a Holiday Party. The author said that, despite endless studies and self-help books (the “charisma industry”), true magnetism is an elusive quality. She talked about “flashy anectdotes” vs “selfless charisma” as a conscious sensitivity to those around us:

…charisma does not have to be self-serving. In Greek, charisma translates as a “gift.” Rather than keep that gift to exploit for themselves, some charismatic people disperse it…I call these people vibe popes. Consider it a nondenominational title for those who unite people under the divine light of a good time.

Now, I certainly don’t claim to be a vibe pope, but I’m not shy. I got a couple of nice messages from colleagues, when I left my job last month. One person said that I had been very good at connecting people (from the two pre-merger entities) and “bridging the gap” after the merger. Even my toxic boss, in her e-mail message to the department about my departure, said that I was skilled at “cultivating new and lasting relationships with donors” and that my “enthusiasm for (the organization) is undeniably contagious.” OK, so maybe I have some level of charisma.

I’d like it to be said that I used whatever charisma I have for good–that I made people feel more warm, welcomed, connected, less lonely. I know that to do that I need to listen to people more closely.

In the spirit of warmth and connection, I wanted to share yesterday’s Santa Lucia broadcast from Sweden. I watch it every year, because my dear daughter is named Lucia (pronounced the Italian way: Loo-CHEE-ah).

We’re Italian-Americans, without a drop of Swedish blood, but I must give credit to Sweden for really making “Lucia Day” (December 13) something special. They celebrate the triumph of light over darkness in the most beautful way. Stunning Nordic setting, music, children, carols, strings, firelight, reindeer – and so very many candles. I hope it helps put you in the holiday spirit.

First day as a mother of two

~ MaryG ~ 1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.
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Today is my son John’s birthday. It’s also Taylor Swift’s birthday and Santa Lucia day in Sweden – so it’s a big day around the world. (Lucia is my daughter’s name, so it’s interesting that he was born on her saint’s name day. And by the way, I’ve added visiting Sweden to my bucket list.)

I waited a long time (six years) to have a second child. I was happy with my one little girl and didn’t think I wanted more children. When I started to second guess that decision, I really agonized about it. I made lists of pros and cons, saw a therapist, and read a book about the environmental impact of having more than one child in a First World country: Maybe One by the great environmentalist Bill McKibben. 

In the end, my heart won out and we were so fortunate to receive the best Christmas present ever in the last month of the first year of the new millennium: an adorable baby boy. I was over 35, so I know I was lucky! On my first day as a mother of two, I felt that our family was complete. There was no turning back now. It felt like I had fully committed to this motherhood thing. It would be the most important part of my identity for the foreseeable future.

Christmas 2000

Related:

I’m someone’s mother