It’s a quiet gray winter afternoon. Moscow is slowly waking up from the long New Year holidays. Angry car horns from the snarled traffic outside on the street – something I haven’t heard for almost 10 days. Sitting in the corner of our messy living room – the radiator heat soaking into my desk and elbow I think back on the first week of the year. I’ve gotten out of the habit of counting my blessings and without the thankfulness I feel dried out and a little lost – the way your throat feels scratchy right before you get a cold. Time to start counting some of the good the new year has brought in:
- 192. New Year morning – waking up on my in-law’s couch. Quiet morning of hot tea, hushed kitchen conversations and leftovers (help yourself, my dear – anything in the fridge! Just make yourself at home!) for breakfast.
- 193. Quiet walk through the snow and icy branches in Moscow Region
- 194. Friends and family that just let you relax and be yourself
- 195. Blazing fireplace, New Year champagne toasts, roast turkey, homemade Napoleon cake and tea from a pine cone-burning samovar around a table with friends
- 196. Calling home during economist husband’s long-deserved work holiday, asking him what he’s doing and hearing, “Playing video games”
- 197. Boeuf Bourginon recipe success!
- 198. Getting called into work and being the only one in the entire newsroom – having to figure it all out on my own.
- 199. Emails and sms’s from friends; let’s get together for coffee
- 200. Skype calls from home
- 201. Poetry and prayer – Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
- 202. Good books – on the metro and at home on our couch
- 203. Sunday lunch at my favorite Moscow cafe with economist husband and friends. Quiche lorraine, tea and almond croissant. Real conversation and finding new friends.
- 204. inspiration and late-night writing
- 205. Economist husband deep in his favorite: trend analysis.
- 206. Time to be quiet and soak it all in
- 207. New Year resolutions
