December. A desperate celebration of an end.
— Chandrama Deshmukh, A Teaspoon of Stars
This quote sort of sums of December for me…the end of a year, the end of a word (which has been a very good word for me!), the end of my being 62, the end of my Year of Gnomes (yes… I am doing a +1 in January… there is no way you can quit gnoming cold turkey! haha)
And with all those ending things, it is so hard to not look ahead to what is coming.
I don’t want to do that and so I am going to daily remind myself to savor the day… be full of the moment… and not filling myself with the anticipation of what is to come.
Do I need to do some planning and thinking about January? Yes, I do… but I am not going to allow that to overtake the Celebration of December!
Now, how about some things that have been on my mind recently!
Remembering —
Christine McVie. Her death came as a gut punch to me this week. I will forever remember her singing this:
Infatuated (with) —
Three hand knits have found me circling back to look at them for a while now. I have been in the ‘wait and see’ mode… waiting to see if this infatuation I have for them will grow into a lasting love… which will mean I can cast on with confidence!
- Kate Gilbert’s Nouvelle Vague (From Knitty Deep Fall) or really… a Clapotis Gradation. IMO, the Original Clapotis has the preferred shape and I had I had knit one eons ago but maybe I need a new one? I don’t know, but I am enamored of the idea of doing one in the Fade Fad. But the fad idea has halted me from moving this from infatuation to project.
- Drawing Sweater. Oh my. Sweater as a work of art… absolutely. And when I first saw this, if I had the yarn to knit one in my stash, I would have instantly cast on. But then I saw this….
- Flutter. Wow, right? Anyways, in my brain, I would do this and steek it. Flutter is just so lovely… and maybe more useful than a sweater?
(be) Fuddled —
Imagine my total surprise when Spotify notified me that my Spotify Wrapped 2022 was ready for me. Huh?
We regularly listen to Spotify, but we *always use Steve’s Spotify* … as in I make the food, Steve does the music. I know, it is a massive contribution that he makes! LOL
Anyways, the *only* thing I have used Spotify for in the past year was to listen to podcasts that were only on Spotify.
However, the list was even more befuddling… I have never listened to any of these songs, nor has Steve ever selected any playlists with any of these on it! WTAF Spotify, WTAF!
(some word) Forethought —
As my year with Full draws to a close, I have had the curious incidence of a new word nudging me for some time now. I ignored it at first, but the nudges persisted and became more frequent. I have settled in to the idea of this word, but it is a bit scary as I contemplate “the how” of this word so I have been contemplating it lots. In lots of ways. So to make sure that I capture any and all ideas that pop into my head during the day… I have started an Apple Note(s) for it. Some ideas I am sure will be hilarious to look back on, but I am capturing them all. And, while I think this technically might be Word Cheating, I am happy to be filling the tiniest bit of my days with Word Planning 2023!
And I am even more excited to sign up for Ali Edwards OLW 2023 “class” and this year I think my word will work in such a way that I can do some journal documentation! Stay tuned!
And there you have some very varied RIFFing for this first weekend in December! See you all back here on Monday!
So hard to believe we are at the first weekend in December! So hard to believe that Christine McVie has passed. I am curious to see what your 2023 OLW is. And those knitting aspirations – WOW!!!
Christine McVie and Fleetwood Mac were such a big part of our lives, so it was quite sad to hear the news. Gaslight is M-W’s word of the year, so maybe Spotify is putting that word into action. And those knitting infatuations – I don’t think you can make a wrong choice with any (or all) of them!
I couldn’t imagine playing the piano and singing in front of so many people. I would be terrified. I loved the music of Fleetwood Mac.
I got a Spotify Wrapped email, too, but I knew it was spam because I don’t have a Spotify account and it came to my very first Gmail account that other Sarah Jordans frequently give out not realizing that it’s not their email.
I’m also trying really hard to focus on savoring the days this month. We have so much coming up and I know it’s going to fly, and I really want to make sure that I appreciate it all!
I laughed out loud at your reaction to your Spotify Wrapped – how funny that they just made something up for you! My own Spotify Wrapped made me realize that I really need to venture out of my workout comfort zone. Yikes!
I can’t wait to see what word has been nudging you. And it’s totally not cheating to start brainstorming and paying attention now!
Enjoy your weekend!
I am mourning Christine McVie as well. I know we are getting to . . . the age . . . when the deaths of our music idols will be more often but I’m sure not ready for that. I don’t think contemplating your 2023 word is cheating at all, I think it’s part of the natural process of this whole thing.
I was confused about why my Spotify Wrapped came so early this year–isn’t it early for that?? AND, I didn’t even bother to open it, because everyone in my house uses my Spotify, which means I get all of Linc and Elsa’s listening taste (which only sometimes meshes with mine). (I’ll never forget the first year it happened. I was like, Why the hell is there so much rap music on this list??
And, oh my goodness. It sounds like some powerful word stuff is happening there!! I’m curious–you had mentioned at one point, around Release, I’m pretty sure…that you had some words ‘preparing’ you (not sure that was the phrase you used)–but anyway, preparing you for another word. Curious if this new word is part of that–or if it took you completely by surprise!? Regardless, it sounds rich already.
I am old enough to remember Fleetwood Mac from before Christine Mcvie, and actually preferred the original line up. It’s still very hard to hear of the loss of anyone though. Yes December must be enjoyed before we launch into the excitement of new beginnings in January. I too have a word that seems most apt, but is going to be hard going. Cogitating ….
Some “words” have been fluttering around the edge of my brain. Like you, I am doing my best to slow down and enjoy December. It’s hard to believe the year is coming to an end. Your knitting choices all look great but that Flutter wrap/scarf – so so beautiful. Hope your Sunday is relaxing and peaceful.
(There is no such thing as “word cheating.” Enjoy your “pre-work!”) (Just sayin.) My Spotify list was also VERY weird this year. (But I’m afraid I did listen to that much Harry Styles. . . ) Those knit ideas look really great, Kat. And I’m with you: nothing can top the original Clapotis. XO