Abide

House-Bound Holidays

The other day on BBC Radio news, I heard a piece about small pleasures -- that these are the only ones that last, that can be counted on. This is so true for those of us who live, almost entirely, in our own houses.

If you are struggling to decide what to give someone who is ill this holiday season, this idea would be a good guiding principle. First, of course -- ask. We each have different preferences and needs, so the best pointers will come from the recipient her/himself. My ideas will not suit everyone; they come from my own inclinations.

I am, by temperament, a person who values small luxuries. Others may not be so frivolous, nor able to afford -- even as gifts -- unnecessary indulgences. So, ask. Perhaps your friend would most appreciate a gift certificate from the grocery store, or a payment on an energy bill. At the end of this post, I'll direct you to some other lists that are, perhaps, more practical.

These are a few of the things that make my life easier, more pleasant, and more fun:

A Bad Spell

A bad spell (which can last for months) means:

• Energy to do only one or two things per day. Taking a bath or shower counts. So does cooking a meal. So does writing a blog post, or talking on the phone with a friend. Take your pick.
• Neglecting the pets. Not walking the dogs. Insufficiently petting the cats. Ignoring the parakeets. Being a bad pet parent.
• Beginning, setting down, forgetting, several books at once.
• Sleeping at least twelve hours per day. Not quite being awake the other twelve.
• Wearing the same clothes, unwashed, day after day after day, because doing laundry is too difficult.
• Eating rather too much pizza. Cheap, filling, delivered.
• Stepping carefully around piles of books, magazines, unread mail.
• Leaving phone calls, email, paper mail, blog comments -- unanswered.
• Wondering how one prioritizes long procrastinated tasks.

Of course, the fact that I can write this means that the bad spell is easing; it's only in looking back that I see how bad it's been.