"with heart and soul and voice..."

[bronze_ribbons]

This year, the family present-exchanging took place in stages: rather than schlepping everything up north and back, the Nashville couples got together for duck and gifties last Wednesday. Today was a full day with the St. Paul clan (plus Canadian aunt) -- brunch at The Downtowner, A Christmas Carol at the new Guthrie, and presents afterwards (the saner heads of the family having concurred that the kneebiters would be more manageable -- i.e., the rest of us would get to sleep late -- if Santa arrived today instead of tomorrow).

Tomorrow morning, the Catholic members of the family are going to Mass, and the rest of us will join them for dinner. I've managed a bit of crocheting, a bit of reading (Arsene Lupin), more than a bit of napping, and 55 words of a new story.

Other good things: visited DreamHaven, got to see mrissa, and stopped in an antique store, where I scored with two books (including a biography of Handel), two greeting cards, and a vintage postcard, all for less than $7.

There was also a sizable stack of antique Christmas postcards I managed to resist (must not splurge on more craft possibilities until I use up what I have!). The card I had to buy. . . well. The picture side bears "With Every Good Wish for Christmas" in gold lettering, above a shining star and sprigs of holly; the reverse is postmarked "Sweetser, Ind. Dec 16 8 AM 1909." It was addressed to a woman in Lafontaine, stamped with a 1-cent Ben Franklin, and carried the following tidings:

December 15
Dear Children this leaves me beter of my cold hope you are well Etta more bad news to tell you Plat Sutton was Killed today by that noon fast line I guess he is mangled up prety Bad i will try and Put my carpet down to morrow Come over I can't tell you from mother

I tell you: so many histories. So many stories. So many possibilities. So little time...

---

Am going to try to answer a couple emails and add 50 more words to the story before I call it a night. Hope all y'all are finding some measure of joy or satisfaction in the holiday, in anticipating the New Year, or both.

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Good to see you yesterday! although it feels like a million years ago by now. Oof.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

Indeed. (More tantrums/meltdowns today than I could count. Oy...) Safe travels!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Well, try to throw fewer today, dear; your BYM will appreciate it.

[catrinella.livejournal.com]

Oh, is that the new Handel bio I heard about somewhere? (Probably stuck under the effusery for the new Bach bio....) Do tell ifyou like. :)

*big ol' hugs and missing you loads and the merriests of Christmases, my dear*

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

Mm, no -- a less-than-perfect copy of Lang. But for .90... :-)

Do you remember where you heard about the new bio, and/or what it's called? My radar's not picking up on it.

*big hugs back* Same to you, sweetheart. I'll be a lot saner meself come February.

[ky-expatriate.livejournal.com]

That is a fabulous postcard.