the nutcracker.

Suddenly we’re entering the holiday season and it feels strange and slightly surreal to find that we’re picking up where we left off, enjoying long walks and crispy fall leaves, resuming beloved old traditions.  Sometimes it feels like we never left.

Yesterday a friend asked me how I’m feeling, not being in South Asia during this time of year.  I told her, honestly, “I don’t know.”  One second I’m crying because I’m not there, one second I’m crying with joy and relief because I’m here for good; I’m with my family, I’m healthy.  Clearly it’s emotional either way . . . I guess all of this will just take time to sort out.

This was one of the happy days.  My mom and I got to resume our tradition of watching The Nutcracker ballet, and this year Amelie joined us.  It was a beautiful morning, just the three of us, our “Girl Date,” as Amie called it.