“Snow Effect, The Street in Argentuil,” (1875) by Claude Monet
Since becoming single again in 2017, retiring from my fast-paced government job in 2018, and the onslaught of the pandemic starting in 2019, the holidays and their hoopla have been shifting into a steadily lowering gear. Where before there were multiple family and social gatherings, a frenzy of decorating and of gift-buying for a circle of friends, co-workers, and relatives, these things have come to a trickle in the present.
Empty calendar —
back from drafty mailbox,
the teapot whistles.
Twenty twenty-one’s holiday celebrations were further tweaked in their nature. Both sons getting vaccinated and boosted are gifts. Older son navigating a hospital full of covid patients without getting sick from it is a gift. Younger son and his wife becoming parents of a healthy baby girl and keeping her safe from harm is a double blessing. An elderly parent who has refused vaccinations contracted covid –discovered when she was hospitalized for other reasons– but was asymptomatic for it, is a gift. Consistent access to food, clothing, and shelter for myself and my loved ones are the best gifts of all.
Snow, bright with the sun,
lights each loved one’s face
winter celebrants.
I couldn’t find a youtube of Chick Corea’s, with vocalist, Flora Purim’s, original tune but this one is pretty darned good.
I am the host of today’s dVerse’ Haibun Monday. I say:
Today’s prompt for the haibun will be about celebration.
Tao Talk 
It sounds like you have plenty to celebrate, Lisa! Quiet holidays suit me just fine 🙂
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Oh I do, thank you for noticing. Glad you also enjoy the quiet holidays.
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This sounds like a perfect reason to celebrate… we sometimes forget those small blessings…
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Indeed, Bjorn.
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So many gifts to celebrate – each one so much more precious than a scented candle or some bubble bath!
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Amen to that, Sarah ❤
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Lots of blessings to be thankful for! Happy new year to you!!!!
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Indeed, Grace, thank you ❤
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What wonderful gifts to celebrate Lisa!
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🙂 ❤
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So many things to celebrate, Lisa. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all.
And thank you for hosting!
I’m glad your family members are all OK.
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Indeed and my happy pleasure to share and remind. Happy to host as well. Thank you very much, it is true blessings they are all OK.
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First of all, kudos to your older son who it sounds like is a healthcare professional in a hospital. I can only imagine what kind of stuff he has been witnessing there – or perhaps it’s even crazier than what I think! Keeping fingers crossed he is staying healthy, both physically and mentally!
As for avoiding holiday shopping and other frenzy, I’ve largely had the same situation for most of the past close to 25 years I’ve been married. As a Jehovah Witness, my wife doesn’t celebrate Christmas and my now 20-year-old son largely lost interest several years ago. He still doesn’t mind getting a present though! 🙂
When I still lived in Germany, things were very different. Christmas was pretty big in my family, primarily as a key occasion to gather. The latter is something I miss. I’m okay without exchanging presents. Frankly, you can give a present to somebody you care about any other day of the year!
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Christian, thank you so much for your wonderful comment. My older son is not a health professional but he travels throughout the hospital in his job, which makes it very tricky to stay away from the infected. I think it has taken its toll on his mental health but at this point he’s gotten worry fatigue and is kind of numb about it all.
I understand how you would miss those big gatherings. When my grandma used to cook a big dinner, then after she passed my mom took over, those gatherings were cherished memories. So much has changed since those days.
You’re also so right about being able to give a loved one a gift anytime 🙂
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Each one of those gifts is reason to celebrate.
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Indeed, Ken. A year of many challenges but a year of many blessings. Thank you.
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An excellent sharpness to your celebration. A reminder to not be idly celebratory for everything, but to certainly appreciate what it means to celebrate something. It has been a hard few years, but I suppose that means all the more hope for the future (or more inspiration for those who survive misery).
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Very well-said, Masa. Thank you.
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I enjoyed how you doubled up the form to tell a continuing story. Very nicely done, and you inspired me to go to the store and get treats to celebrate, so great prompt!!
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Maria, thanks much and glad you are treating yourself 🙂
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Much to be thankful for…in spite of covid. Thanks for the prompt!
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Lynn, yes there is, and you are very welcome.
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I love your Haibun, Lisa. Your grateful heart shines through your writing. So much to be thankful for in this unsettled time. I also love the art piece!
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Dwight, thanks much for your kind words. I like the way the sun shines on the snow.
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You are welcome, Lisa!
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You’ve found so many blessings to be grateful for in these times.
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Indeed, Sadje ❤
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🥰😍
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Perfect reasons to celebrate. May the blessings augment through the months. I love the quiet too and these kinds of celebrating are my kind of celebrating. All the best, Lisa. Thanks for the great prompt. xoxo
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Selma thank you for your benevolence, may it be reflected back to you ❤
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Sweet of you to say. Thanks so much.
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You’re very welcome!
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You have a good list of reasons there!
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❤
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O to sip that tea
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❤
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or coffee
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I’m so happy for you, Lisa 😀
❤
David
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Thank you very much, David. She is a true joy to the world ❤
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😀
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What a beautiful painting – in words and the Monet piece of art. Such a hard new season to navigate for you, Lisa. So glad you have such sweet gifts of comfort in your family nearby. Thank you for turning us to the golden gifts through the hard.
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What a wonderful heartfelt comment, Anna. Thank you and my pleasure in doing so.
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Loved your note of gratitude and celebration. An extremely wholesome post.
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Sam, thank you very much.
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Plenty of things to celebrate, eh? I loved this piece! 🙂
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Q, thank you and glad you enjoyed.
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All real gifts indeed. Happy New Year! (K)
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K, welcome back to blogland. Happy New Year!
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Thanks Jade. Easing my way in. Happy New Yea!
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Sounds really wonderful Lisa.
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Max, these are the beacons I keep looking towards.
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Then you are doing it right.
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Wonderful double haibun, Lisa. There is much to be grateful for and to celebrate!
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Dale thank you. Indeed!
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🙂
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Every day harbors gifts. I’m happy you found them.
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🙂
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A chronicle of our times…
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You know, there is some comfort in knowing it’s a universal reality, that we are all struggling. Please let winter’s long shadows soon pass. We are overdue for some light.
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So many things to celebrate and celebrations need not be noisy! Li, this beautiful, heartfelt haibun resonated deeply for its simplicity. May we have many more reasons to celebrate small blessings. ❤️
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Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Punam. May it be so ❤
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