Good morning 2010. That sounds nice to say - like we are boarding a maiden voyage to outer space. It sounds romantic, too - like I might meet Captain Kirk around the next corner! Truth be told - I have been thinking a lot about 2010 these days and like everyone else inspired by the greatness of Ali Edwards - I started by brainstorming a word to represent where I want to go. And when I checked Ali's blog yesterday - I realized that she had picked the same word for her upcoming year: the word 'Story'. And that make me smile because she is awesome and we picked the same 5 letters with two totally different rationales. But, it also made me go off in search of a new word. Which made me decide that one word was just not going to be enough this year and I decided on a bunch of words - starting with Rebuild.
REBUILD. The word "rebuild" sounded pretty close to perfectly-honest. I have a body in dire need of some medical attention and physical repair. First on the list - strengthening my core. Second on the list - putting time and effort into the structure we call our house. It's 110 years old and it's about to get some TLC that will make it a work of art (thank you super architects Dean + Marnie!). Third on the list - rebuilding some relationships. I am guilty of letting different aspects of family + friends fall through the cracks as I figure out how to fill the needs of being a mother. Fourth on the list - rebuilding our diets. I'm pretty good at making sure we eat well and eat mostly organic and try to do things as locally as possible - but, a few things around here have really shown me the urgency of our food. I want to know that I did everything I could to nourish these people I love. 2010 we will eat organic. We will only eat the beef that comes from my uncle's farm (which brings me a lot of pride - and TODD WE WANT TO BUY A WHOLE COW, please). Outside of that - we will eat local bison and free range poultry. Oh, man. Don't get me started on glutens and GMO. Fifth on the list - a new dining room table built from other dining room tables. I love the idea of rebuilding a family conversation and convergence from the dinner times of others. I can't wait to get this one rolling - it's important to me. Sixth on the list - bonding with Norman. He and I got off on the wrong foot and that mischievous little pup has become a curious dog full of character. Sixth on the list - REBUILDING A PAINTING STUDIO. My basement dungeon will become a third floor paradise full of natural light. Which nearly makes me tremble with fright. I've never painted above ground. I will need to rebuild my confidence.
SOOTHE. Rebuild was closely linked to soothe. Soothe is my second word. As much as I need to rebuild and in some ways repair - I am in need of soothing. Which is probably just a weird way to say forgiveness - but, I'm going to take it to mean having that glass of wine or massage OR NATURAL LIGHT PAINTING STUDIO without guilt. And most importantly showing my small people (+ husband + friends + family) that extra bit of tenderness when I can. We watched old home movies over the holidays and they sort of made me sad... I'm a selfish shit and apparently I have been since video cameras were accessible to my family. I looked then - exactly as I look now (except I was wearing a SCRUNCHIE)... not nearly as appreciative or happy to be amongst family AS I SHOULD BE.
GO. I like to GO. That is no secret. I like to GO-GO-GO-GO. I feel good when I am all over the place and experiencing new things and accomplishing stuff. Now that Penn is nearly caught up to Pilot - I feel like the world is our oyster and it's time to really get moving and having fun out there. Blah, blah, blah - that does not mean that we are hanging at play groups and swimming lessons and stuff because I'm finally okay with the fact that I'm not a play-group kind of mom (on my god they stress me out). We will be busy painting things and hitting art galleries + parks + ponds + libraries + antique shops + graffiti galleries + farmers markets + skate board parks + museums to tire out our brains and make tales of life for our record books. We are writing an exciting story...
STORY. Initially this was my word for 2010 because I feel like we are in line for so much to start happening this year. The house renovations. The schedules. The PAINTING! The movement. 2009 was amazing for me. To welcome another small person (I love you Penn). To create the I FOUND WINGS collection. To set goals and accomplish them. To live for harmony. To realize that the path I was after is actually the path I long for. That's a very nice feeling. TOO AWESOME. 2010 is just starting to be a powerful story, too.
Today: happy new year. Happy new day. We are hiding from the cold and loving every minute of having Dan at home with us. It kind of feels like 2010 starts on January 4th when routine forms and life goes back to normal. For now - we are happy (well, except for poor teething Penn - she is getting teeth only on the left side is that normal???) to be here in the warmth of our little family unit. OUR COFFEE MACHINE IS STILL BROKEN SO I AM GOING TO BUNDLE UP AND TAKE THE DOGS AND GO OFF ON FOOT TO FIND JAVA. Perfect day ahead.
Oh, and aside from my 2010 words - I also have a pretty nice LIST of resolutions. And things I am looking forward to (LIKE KAUAI!) I'll post about those soon.
GO!
