Happy 2009

The perfect snow. Big, meaty flakes collecting on the trees and cars that insulate our peaceful, village road. Cold enough for the snow to stick, but not so cold that your nostrils stick shut when you breathe in. I don’t normally appreciate much about winter, but I do love these moments – before the streets become too harrowing and before civilization leaves its mark and turns the snow the color of water after too many paintbrushes have rinsed themselves clean in the same bowl. It’s a beautiful snow globe scene and a day that begs for hot chocolate.

It’s New Year’s Eve. We have reached the end of our season of celebrations. Gabriella, Asher and Levi’s birthdays. Thanksgiving with my sister’s family who finally lives in the same time zone that we do. Chanukah in Chicago with our family. A bunch of other Jewish holidays that pepper the fall and kept us in dry-clean-only fancy clothes. This autumn, we also had the pleasure of sharing in the successful launch of our friends’ films; The World Unseen and I Can’t Think Straight written by Shamim Sarif and produced by Hanan Kattan. I know the ladies have lots still cooking so watch this space for news of future projects. The sound track and the novel of I Can’t Think Straight are now available, and I’m happy to offer them to you here. To the right -->

We’ve faced some challenging times as well these past few months. The hand of the economy did not pass over our house despite the blood of the kosher, organic, grass-fed lamb over our door, and Gabriella was laid off (it’s a Passover reference which is funny because I am simultaneously alluding to the kosher, organic, grass-fed meat that I have been hawking). She is one of many who have been affected, of course. The Broadway community is disproportionately represented in this town, and I want to extend special New Year’s wishes to all those in my town whose shows have closed this year. I hope you are, indeed, able to open a new window and open a new door this year. In the meantime, we’ve got a piano, fresh eats and an open bar. Come on over! This year can only be a year of change for us, and we’re looking forward to it. Bring it on!

It has all been a roller coaster of a ride, and now we are spent. It happens every year that New Year’s comes and goes with little fanfare or fuss. Home with the family and a few friends in front of the fire, cocktails in hand. That’s all we need to quietly usher in the new year.

I’m not going to go on about resolutions just as I never refer to my blog as a collection of musings or rants & raves because all of those things are a bit bloggy for my liking. Instead, I wish you all a happy new year. May 2009 bring joy and health and maybe even a few happy surprises to you all. And may I provide a bit of levity along the way. Please stop by every now and then. Bring a friend. And if you have an adorable, Italian au pair living with you, bring her, too. No, really.

Making hot chocolate on New Years Day