Passages

MERRY HAPPY HOLIDAYCHRISTMAKWANZUKAH SOLSTICE!

(I think that should cover it all. *GRIN*)

This is it! The last of the daily joy posts! For now, anyway. I may try to pop in and post positivity just for fun every once in a while. You know, it's good for my mental health. And yours, I hope. ;)

I need to type this up before the onslaught of family members arrives. They're on their way! Once they are here, there is no way I'll be able to get on the computer. It will be chaos. (Usually fun chaos, but chaos, nevertheless.)

Therefore, let's get to it, shall we?

Our week in review: Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. Day 5. Day 6.


DAY 7

* A purple iPod nano. An overwhelmingly generous collective gift from my grandmother and my aunts Marilyn and Suzanne. There's no snowball's chance in hell I'll be able to fit all the music I own onto that thing (I think it stores about 8GB?), but I'm not about to tell them that. *laughing uproariously* That's what happens when you're a musician. You own too many CDs, can't possibly put them all in storage. Maybe I will have to pick and choose my utmost favorite songs. Maybe it will teach me moderation. Heh. Right. Still, it's soooo pretty and really cool. I cannot wait to play with this thing. Yay for techno gadgets! *does happy dance of joy*

* Toby Ziegler. (In honor of the man, see user pic for this post.) He's the main featured character in my favorite episode from The West Wing, a crown jewel entitled "In Excelsis Deo." Because of Richard Schiff's meticulously complex portrayal of Toby, I began to look at his character in a new light. He wasn't the stereotypical cantankerous crab he could have been in lesser hands. Under Schiff's care, Toby was fierce, frustrated, brilliant, professional, intelligent, honorable, funny (yes, really), saucy (only with CJ), and sadly, quietly self-loathing. And cantankerous. Heh. He expected the best of himself and of his President, and he gave everything to his work. ("It couldn't have gone far, right? Somewhere in this building ... is our talent.")

And in that Christmas-themed episode, the way he fought for the proper military burial of the homeless stranger who happened to be wearing the coat he donated to Goodwill, the way he cringed to even admit that he might have some influence and 'power' in order to help the dead man's brother, the way he stutteringly apologized to the President for using his name in order to make it all happen, he broke my heart. I also fell a little bit in love with him. I think even President Bartlet sees his brilliance:

"I couldn't live without you, Toby. I mean it. I'd be in the tall grass; I'd be in the weeds. I know I disappoint you sometimes. I mean, I can sense your disappointment. And I only get mad because I know you're right a lot of the times, but you are not the kid in the class with his hand up and whatever it was you said to C.J. You are a wise and brilliant man, Toby..."

~ The West Wing, "The Crackpots and These Women"

Toby stirred up and reinvigorated my interest in creative writing. He was the inspiration for my very first piece of fan fiction ever. In fact, before I started browsing for info about The West Wing, I didn't even know what fan fic was.

And that show was my first foray into everything online. Just because I wanted to know more about the show and its characters, I discovered this bizarre, amazing world of people, communities chatting and conversing and discussing and analyzing, and it was marvelous. They made me feel so welcome. And that security gave me the confidence to branch out and search for sites and communities for other favorite programs of mine. It's what eventually brought me to bardsmaid's astoundingly spot-on X-Files fiction, and more importantly, a marvelous, rewarding friendship with her. (Seriously, our emails are often epic-length. We've scaled back, but no matter the length of the mail, I savor every word.) It's what brought me to bond with the people on TJ Thyne's site, where I've made some lovely and entertaining friendships. It's what brought me to 'meet' lostakasha, whom I have come to treasure madly. (We're still getting to know each other, but our friendship extends well beyond general fandom discussions, and I am so grateful for that. And jazzed to keep our rich conversations jamming.)

I guess what I'm trying to say in a roundabout way is, I'm so glad to know you or chat with you or have these wonderful, in-depth conversations with you. In different ways, you all inspire me. And yes, you bring me great joy.

Which brings me to this...

* Family, in all its definitions. Your biological family, who drive you nuts but are still endearing and wacky and surprising and wonderful. *LOVES* Your online community friends, who let you rant and rave and cheer and go on about the minute details of all things. They may never meet you, they may not even know what you look like, but they 'see' you and 'get' you and appreciate you all the same. *LOVES* Your best friends, who know you better than anybody and remind you why you're lovable and offer care and support and encouragement and wild hilarious fun. *LOVES*

I hope each and every one of you has a beautiful holiday, and I wish for you the most astoundingly fantastic new year.

Merry Christmas!

It's that time of year...

Everyone's in a hurry; there's so much to accomplish in time for the holidays, no matter what you celebrate. Presents to purchase, decorations to hang, parties to organize, traveling to do. It's a whirlwind of frenzied activity.

In direct contrast to that harried atmosphere, I stand watching, even marveling, as tiny graceful snowflakes float and fall outside my window tonight. Then I am reminded... it's also a time when I find myself feeling romantic and nostalgic.

( More thoughts within... )