Happy New Year

It's the third and final night of our impromptu trip. The first night we spent with friends, the second in a motel and tonight we're in a B&B. It's New Year's Eve and we're in Burlington, Vermont. It was beautiful walking down Church Street, the local pedestrian-only thoroughfare. There were lots of lights in all the trees and Morgane was delighted to find huge piles of snow dumped here and there, probably just so kids like her could climb and slide on them. We arrived at the B&B just in time for the early fireworks show which we could see perfectly well from the backyard, overlooking Champlain Lake.

Tomorrow all the stores will be closed, so alas, I might not get my English bookstore fix, but tonight we are happy to have a quiet place to sleep - the motel was not even quiet last night, imagine New Year's Eve! Morgane is in bed; when she saw her bed she climbed over it, around it and even under it before proceeding to cover it with a green velvety blanket. She tried hard to smooth out every last bump. Ghis may not be awake to see the midnight fireworks since he's already in bed and his eyes are closed and it's only 8pm.

As for me, I have wireless internet and one bottle of British Columbia pomegranate-flavoured cider which someone bought me in Ottawa and which I've been hauling around with me on this trip. And I have chocolate I bought on Church Street. Yee-ha. Ghis is snoring, so he's officially asleep.

Maybe I'll take our dog, Carmanah, for a walk around the neighbourhood. It looks pleasant with large, bright New England houses and a fresh dusting of snow. And instead of making resolutions, maybe I'll think of three things that I'll stop trying to change and just accept instead. But one thing to change, too.

Another Story as Dictated by Morgane, Age 5

Once upon a time there was a family who lived in a beautiful house beside the cemetery. There was Santa who lived in the north pole and Morgane was at the north pole and she was bringing a present to Santa. She liked Santa. She stayed for one night or two. She liked staying with Santa one or two or three nights. She went home when it was late after three nights. She took her dinner there, too. Her mama was worried about her little girl staying for one or two night, so she went off to see her, but she didn't spy anything. She didn't know if her little girl was at the north pole or not.

Inside the present, it was a little cuckoo clock and Santa loved it. He cuckooed it again and again a lot of times before dinner. And Morgane drew a lot of pictures before dinner. And then she was worrying about her mother so Santa noticed she wanted to go, so Santa brought her back in his sleigh. And she lived happily ever after, but Daddy was worried. The end.

Winter-loving girl

Christmas Eve

We're waiting for the family to show up for Christmas Eve dinner. I have been pondering why people stress out about spending time with their extended families. Partly, I think it reflects the number of unresolved issues between members of the family. But then I realized that it's also the way we pigeon-hole each other, expecting each person to be the same as they were years ago. The fact is that people change, but when they get together with their families, they may feel like they haven't changed at all.

Enough pondering. Morgane is here chattering in my ear. She wants to tell me a story.

Morgane was a princess who lived in a castle. She had a brilliant dragon that she wanted to keep forever. At school, everyone said that she was a caca. And at home she told her mommy and daddy and when her grandfather was dead, he left her a gift and he went to the cemetery and buried himself. And Morgane lived happily ever after. The end.

Snowpeople

Snowpeople are just like everybody else, only colder. Today it was finally warm enough to make a couple in our front yard. The snow was too hard to roll, so we carved them instead. I put swimming goggles on one, but Morgane kept taking them off. If it doesn't rain too much, our friends will solidify nicely and maybe stay around for the entire winter.

Heather's Ponderings

The tree looks so good this year, it's like we're living in a Christmas card. Morgane has her own tiny tree in her room. She is the perfect age for enjoying Christmas since she is full of enthusiasm and wants so much to believe in Santa. At the Christmas party at my school, Santa came to give the kids presents. After he left (out the door), she gazed out the window, waiting patiently to see his sleigh fly up into the sky. She gave me a most disappointed look when I told her that he never flies when kids are watching.

We bought a family set of snowshoes and have our own little trail that leads from our backyard directly into the as yet undeveloped forest behind our house. We've trampled down a path, so it's easier going now. Morgane helped us flatten the snow to make several resting places where she lies down, exhausted, sticking her little snowshoed feet up in the air. But five minutes after lying down, she becomes energized and is ready to go again. Snacks help.