Wish Me Anything You Want

Portions of the content below appeared on Chasing Roots last December, and the December before, and the December before that. I believe that this post - with a few updates - and its overarching message deserve a share every time the season for "wishing" arrives. 

I grew up in an ethnically and religiously diverse community. Because of the plethora of religions supported, holidays celebrated, and traditions followed (and not supported, celebrated, and followed, for that matter - the Freedom From Religion Foundation began and is still based there), and because my hometown has a reputation as "the land of the perpetually offended," very little related to religious holidays could be found in public buildings and schools throughout my childhood years. We never sang Christmas carols or wore Santa hats in school, and in 1987, the Christmas tree that had stood proudly in the State Capitol rotunda every December since 1918 was renamed a Holiday tree in an attempt to make the building feel more inclusive and to avoid conflict.

To be clear, I understand why the tree was renamed. A Christmas tree in the State Capitol building is hardly a separation of church and state. It's not the point of my post though, so I'm moving on.

In 2011, Governor Walker re-renamed the tree, this time back to a Christmas tree. "It's a diverse state," Walker explained. "I think it's a reflection of the many wonderful traditions in the State of Wisconsin." During the month of December, the Capitol rotunda also hosted a Menorah, Festivus trees, and a nativity scene mocking Christmas, so it seemed a wide variety of people were "represented" in their State Capitol building.

Again to clarify, I understand why the tree was re-renamed. Just changing the name of an object long associated with a religious holiday doesn't necessarily lessen the association between the two. It's not the point of my post either though, so I'm moving on again.

In 2019, and try to keep up here, Governor Evers re-re-renamed (no, I'm not kidding) the tree, this time back to a Holiday tree. 

Obviously I'm moving on again, but I wanted to first make sure those of you who read this post every year know where things stand - and this is updated as of 2024 - with the Wisconsin State Capitol tree.

Pretty...and pretty controversial.

Growing up, I learned to wish people "Happy Holidays" during the month of December. I used this phrase, and this phrase exclusively, until a few years ago, not because it's lovely and inclusive (though it IS lovely and inclusive, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with wishing someone happy holidays), but because I honestly worried about offending someone.

I now live in a completely different kind of community from the one in which I grew up, so out of curiosity, a few years ago I ran an (uncontrolled) experiment. While shopping and running errands during the two weeks leading up to Christmas, I recorded what people "wished" me. I didn't track what they said when I spoke first (because people often respond by repeating whatever phrase they hear), only what they said when they spoke first. I expected to find that in my current community, I would hear "Merry Christmas" most of the time. On the flip side, I expected to find that once I arrived in my hometown, I would hear "Happy Holidays" - or a wide variety of holiday wishes - most of the time.

Imagine my surprise when here in Texas I heard "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" an equivalent number of times. I was even more surprised when in Wisconsin I heard the two phrases almost an equivalent number of times again.

Tom would have me review my methods, analyze my data using formulas and equations, and submit my results to you in the form of a journal article, formal paper, and presentation, but there's a reason he's a professor and I'm not. I don't care to do any of that; I don't really even want to think about my incorrect predictions.

I do, however, want to focus on how wonderful it felt to be wished anything at all. I celebrate Christmas, but would never take offense if someone wished me Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or even just Happy Winter. I would never complain about someone wishing me happiness, in any way, shape, or form.

I love that my current community now embraces "Happy Holidays" along with "Merry Christmas." And I love that my hometown community seems to be moving toward the same place of acceptance.

The beauty is in the wishing, folks. So with a kind heart, wish people a happy whatever-you-want - Christmas, Hanukkah, Full Moon, Tuesday, winter - and with a graceful heart, accept whatever they feel moved to wish you.

Let's Get Crackin'

Ballet Brazos' 13th annual production of The Nutcracker opens this week!

We load in today, have tech rehearsals tomorrow and Thursday, and run our dress rehearsal on Friday morning before the curtain opens on our first show at 7pm Friday night. There are still a few tickets remaining for all three shows - Friday night at 7pm, Saturday afternoon at 2pm, and Saturday evening at 6:30pm - and they can be purchased through the MSC Box Office. 

If you attend the show, I encourage you to arrive VERY early to avoid lines at the parking garages and to take advantage of our Nutcracker Experience. This year guests can enjoy live music, multiple photo backdrops/booths, a meet-and-greet with Clara, our Nutcracker Market, and light refreshments and bar service (both for purchase) before the show. Questions? Let me know!

Hallie and her fellow dancers have dedicated hours and hours to their rehearsals - and the Ballet Brazos team and I have worked tirelessly this fall (all year, really) - to bring this show to the stage. We're proud of what everyone has accomplished together...this year and every year since Ballet Brazos began 13 years ago.

Hope to see you at Rudder Auditorium this weekend!

Thanksgiving is the Language of Heaven

 

In place of a High Five for Friday post tomorrow, I'm posting my annual November Gratitude Journal today. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

November 1: I'm grateful for (when I have) a working dryer and oven. 😂

November 2: I'm grateful for the opportunity to earn the trust of others. 

November 3: I'm grateful for an extra hour of sleep.

November 4: I'm grateful for dinner with my people, all of us in the same place at the same time, and for bottomless chips, salsa, and creamy jalapeno dip.

November 5: I'm grateful for our dance family, which in many ways goes back years and in other ways is brand new and in all ways feels like home.

November 6: I'm grateful for the opportunity to vote, and that no matter the outcome, my daughter - the darling girl I birthed but also every single other marginalized American who today needs a mother to protect them - knows I tried.  

November 7: I'm grateful for my new dryer. (Please reference November 1.)

November 8: I'm grateful for friends who stepped in for me and made it possible for me to travel to Arkansas for a couple of days. 

November 9: I'm grateful for my grandma's 92 years on this earth.

November 10: I'm grateful for safe travels, that I arrived home in time to catch Will's last soccer game and Hallie's last dance rehearsal of the weekend, and that Hallie and I didn't forget the groceries in the back of the car this week. (Because we absolutely did forget the groceries in the back of the car last week and it was a disaster.)

November 11: I'm grateful for our veterans.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.     ~ Ronald Reagan

November 12: I'm grateful for exciting developments and forward progress within some of the organizations for which I volunteer.

November 13: I'm grateful for cancelled plans.

November 14: I'm grateful for Red Cup Day.

November 15: I'm grateful to work with people who try really hard to get it right.

November 16: I'm grateful for coffee and curling irons.

November 17: I'm grateful my girl is strong...even if she doesn't see it yet.

November 18: I'm grateful for rain, even though I had to run six errands in it and ended up with wet shoes and frizzy hair.

November 19: I'm grateful for this little munchkin, who wants me to snuggle her like a baby every time she sees me. 

November 20: I'm grateful for my kids' high school, as well as the school's administration, teachers, and staff who pour so much of themselves into the students and are so tremendously committed to providing "their" kids incredible opportunities inside and outside the classroom. 

November 21: I'm grateful for my mama friends who talk me down when there's steam coming out of my ears.

November 22: I'm grateful for 46 years on this earth. 

I'm also grateful for all of the birthday phone calls, texts, emails, and Facebook messages I received. Social media has its downfalls, but allowing - even encouraging - users to make sure family members, friends, and acquaintances feel loved on their birthdays (and supported through times of crisis) is not one of them.

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.

November 23: I'm grateful for two pleasant encounters, neither of which I expected to go the way they did.

November 24: I'm grateful for generous return and exchange policies. 😂

November 25: I'm grateful, at the risk of sounding insensitive, we decided to stay home this Thanksgiving. I've been so overwhelmed this fall, and the thought of traveling - even to see our families who we of course love and want to spend time with - was more than I could add to my plate the week before Nutcracker. Thankfully, Tom's parents and sister and my parents are all coming to visit us and to see the show next week!

November 26: I'm grateful for insurance. Any and all kinds.

November 27: I'm for brownies and macaroni and cheese. I'm grateful for my DVR and cordless vacuum. I'm grateful for new athletic shoes and flattering jeans (that supposedly help me look less like an old lady). I'm grateful for local boutiques and online shopping. I'm grateful for brisk mornings and my fireplace. I'm grateful for friends. And I'm grateful we are healthy(ish), happy(ish), and together.

November 28: I'm grateful for the opportunity to take what I've learned this month out into the world with me.

Thanksgiving is the language of heaven.

Monthly Medley: November 2024

 

November's Monthly Medley is a bit early, and therefore a bit shorter than my usual Monthly Medleys, but that's how the schedule played out this year. You can blame Thanksgiving for being so ridiculously late. 😉

Reading

Liv Constantine is one of my new favorite authors. She writes complex, layered stories and characters; weaves in suspense and twists in ways that feel exciting and surprising yet also believable; and wraps up all of her books with satisfying endings. This month I read The Last Mrs. Parrish and it was perfection.

I also listened to Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I enjoyed it enough that I'll likely look to her books again the next time I'm taking a long road trip. (I listened to most of the story while on my way to and from Arkansas for my grandma's funeral.)

Watching

I had high hopes for Happy's Place, starring Reba McEntire, but neither Hallie or I can get into it. St. Denis Medical, which just premiered a couple of weeks ago, is however a hit in my book. It's kind of like Parks & Rec or The Office, in that the show seems like it's about normal people doing their normal jobs while a documentary crew films their lives, except St. Denis Medical takes place in an emergency room/department.  

Listening To

Before I started Listening To Malibu Rising, I listened to The Man in the Black Mask - a Dateline Original Podcast from Dateline NBC. If you like listening to Dateline the podcast or watching Dateline the television show, you'll like this podcast!

Following

For humorous videos about everyday life experiences, check out Julie Story (@juliestory). This video (here and here) was my first of hers...she's funny on her own, but it's her use of props that does it for me.

Trying/Using/Wearing

I don't have anything new to share here this month, as everything I've recently bought or I'm currently buying is getting wrapped up and won't be tried or used or worn until the end of December. 😉

Eating/Drinking

I actually found quite a few great new recipes this month! (More than usual, at least...)

• This Crock Pot Creamy Ranch Chicken was easy to throw into the crockpot and came out perfectly a few hours later.
• I took a few liberties with this One Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo recipe, but the end result was a huge hit. I cooked the chicken first, removing it from the pot when it was almost done cooking. Then I browned the sausage, and added it to the plate with the chicken. Then I sauteed chopped onions, red peppers, and green peppers in the same pot, and when they were done, I added all of the meat back to the pot and continued with the recipe. When it came time for the heavy cream, I used 1.5 cups of skim milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, just to lighten it up a bit. Delicious!
• Though not everyone in my family loves fish, there are enough fans that I periodically try new surf (primarily salmon and tilapia) recipes. This Baked Parmesan Garlic Herb Salmon was fantastic, which I expected because it's hard to go wrong when you top something with butter and cheese.  

Smiling About

• Whenever Hallie and/or I need a mood boost, we watch these two YouTube videos by The Scott Family. We can't make it through them without actually laughing out loud. Here's the first, and here's the second.

 

Happy November, friends!

High Five for Friday (11.22.24)

 

One

I did a radio interview for Ballet Brazos, and it wasn't terrible. It also wasn't amazing, but in my defense, it turns out that radio interviews are nothing like what I expected...I don't think I'm cut out for talking/speaking/communicating opportunities that have a time limit. 

Also related to Nutcracker, we had a great full run-through last Saturday. Everything is coming together, and perhaps most importantly, Avery's hair held up for all NINE HOURS of rehearsal. 😂 The final countdown until our shows has begun!

My girl is so ready for her first lead.

What's she watching?

Her bestie as Clara. Oh, my heart.

Our day started at 6:45am with a hair curling party.

If you still need tickets to see The Nutcracker, visit the MSC Box Office to purchase yours today. Shows are Friday, December 6th at 7pm and Saturday, December 7th at 2pm and 6:30pm.

Two

This little girl is a delight. She makes me smile every time I enter her "quarantine" area, and I can't wait until she gets to meet Popeye in just a couple of days. I hope they'll be friends.

Blep.

Will and Atmos, on the floor of my closet.

Those eyes...

...I mean...

COME ON. 😍

Three

The kids' high school won their first round playoff game last Friday night, and played again last night. (As I type this, I don't yet know the outcome of this second round playoff game. If you're reading these two sentences, it's because I didn't have time to edit this blog post between late Thursday night and early Friday morning when it went live.) Go Tigers!

Four

Though insanely crowded and unseasonably/unreasonably warm, shopping at Jingle Bell Market was fun and allowed me to cross a few gifts off my Christmas list.

Five

I managed to get all of my baking - four loaves of pumpkin break and three pans of brownies - for the kids' and Tom's many different Thanksgiving parties done on time. The list was long, but we (I, with "help" in the form of encouraging texts from my family members) got it done!

Bonus

Fall Pics 

I love fall, and I miss it. Thankfully, many of my northerner friends know how much I love and miss fall and send me pictures. 

Happy weekend, friends!

It'll Always Be November

For the first time last year, Hallie didn't want to sing "It's November" - one of her preschool "learn the month" songs, which accidentally became a tradition in our family - for me or for the internet. This wasn't a surprising development, of course, but I'd be lying if I said her decision to close the door on this tradition didn't sting a little.

I may not have new additions to the video series, but I will always hold space in my blogging schedule for this post. Let it serve as a reminder to cherish the "little" years, as Father Time slows for no one.

November 2011

November 2012

November 2013

November 2014

November 2015

November 2016

November 2017

November 2018

November 2019

November 2020

 

November 2021

        

I still can't watch the 2011 version of this video without tearing up. I miss that sweet and spicy two-year-old… 

High Five for Friday (11.15.24)

 

One

It took us a little while to figure it out, but our newest tradition is going out to eat at Gringo's after Hallie's choir concerts. We've done it twice now, so that makes it official. 

Two

Hallie and I, along with many dance friends, went on a studio field trip to see BalletX - Philadelphia's premiere contemporary ballet company - perform at Rudder Auditorium here in College Station. We all ate dinner together, thoroughly enjoyed the show, and then had the opportunity to meet and talk with the dancers.

Three

I spent last weekend in Arkansas for my Grandma's funeral. While I'd rather have gathered under different circumstances, it was great to spend time with aunts, uncles, and a couple of cousins I haven't seen in more than 20 years.

Sleeveless at the cemetery, discreetly pointing out to my sister
the person wearing a winter coat. You can take the Midwestern
girl out of the Midwest...but you can't make her wear a coat. 

After the funeral, visiting the cemetery, and a lovely
luncheon, we went antique-ing (in my grandma's honor,
as antique-ing is something she loved to do). I found these
fabulous Nutcracker banners for less than $2 each and I
can't wait to hang them out front on our porch!

Four

While I was gone, Will's soccer team played their last two US Open Cup regional games...and came out on top, qualifying for Nationals next July in Colorado. I hated missing these important regional qualifying games, but I'm SO grateful Tom was able to be there (and that he does such a great job voice-to-texting me a play-by-play) and Will was actually able to play; he and his fellow center back played all 180 minutes and back didn't allow a goal, and he felt strong enough that he played a second game - with his UPSL team - in the evening after playing the regional final in the morning.

07 Black - Nationals, here we come!

The 09 Black team also qualified for Nationals,
so this pic is of both Cavalry teams after their wins.

The Cavalry players from the two teams who're also Lads.

Five

Happiness Highlights

Documentation to show that one time I created a schedule
to take photos of 100+ dancers and NAILED it. I estimated
that we would finish our morning session at 10:45am and it
was 10:45am ON THE DOT when our last dancer wrapped.
I'm not sure I've ever felt more accomplished.

Later in the day I felt less accomplished. Nutcracker
is hard, y'all. A good kind of hard, but hard nonetheless. 

My girl has been enjoying her snuggles lately.

I'm not to watch her while she sleeps, though.

With a little guidance from his mom, Tom
tried his hand at baking...and it tasted good! 

Nothing like a warm car hood on a hot, November day.

Carter's Cash haul!

We have a new foster babe! Little Atmos was found
with her sibling in an Atmos Energy truck engine, and
while her injured sibling headed to the hospital, she came
to us. She's timid and shy, but she's oh so sweet and is going
to make a wonderful addition to a family in a few weeks!

Yes, my eyes are basically closed, but it's because
I was so big happy to see these three friends again.  

Happy weekend, friends!