Happy Holidays

time for a break

Here is our Christmas photo, well our attempt at our Christmas photo. This has become a yearly event that started some time ago when I decided to forgo Christmas cards. Instead we take a family photo and making a donation to Women’s refuge with the money I would have spent on cards and postage. I have of course had lofty ambitions for this photo, forgetting that I am trying to now three capture dogs, in whatever weather, no doubt pushed for time and using a self timer. Yet I persist.

This years attempt was filled with more disarray than usual. I realised I had to it one evening before the weather turned to the predicted rain. I made a note to myself so I would not forget and slide into the slumber of the evening. When the allocated time came for said photo, I was faced with a wind which I tried to ignore and a glaring back light that I told myself added atmosphere rather than harsh shadows and bold blast. Once the camera was set up, we naturally arrange ourselves in a scatter to far to one side of the photo. Dogs hunt of treats and won’t face the camera. I attempt and attempt and then give up. The wind wins. I tell myself I will make something of it.

I skim through the photos wishing I could be one of those people who has the skill set to snip parts of an image from here and there to make a solid quality photo but I am not. I feel a bit frustrated and flat. I move on and do something else. When I return and look again at the photos I realise they tell me more than I thought. They tell me of year where we all tried our best. It talks of the odd gust that swept us off the path we thought we were suppose to be on. There was light, beautiful light filled moments. There was a garden with flowers that was a back drop to all of this. Do I wish that Eos was more in the shot? Yes. Do I admire Atlee’s ever so patient sit and wait while everyone moves around him creating a chaos that he once was always the centre of? Yes. Do I wish Helios would chill out and settle a bit? Yes, but he is a pup still despite is long legs and grown body that suggests adulthood. Do I wish we looked a little less tired yes but it is the time of year when we are so ready to sink into a period of rest. A period of rest I think we are all searching for and are deserving of.

I see my smile and delight to be with my family in one of my favourite garden spaces. It is a smile that comes more freely than it would have 12 months ago. I find myself giving into more laughter which I have missed doing in the years past and perhaps all these things are what should be in a Christmas photo. So now that the photo is done, I can tick that off my list of things to do. Maybe’s next year will be better. It will be different again I am sure. For whatever reason I hope we are happy and healthy, these days that is all I wish for.

To you I hope you have a beautiful Christmas. May you experience love, joy, kindness and some rest. Thank you for all your support this year. I am so very grateful. I’m off to start devouring my reading pile and look forward to seeing you again in 2025.