On the Cusp of Ordinary Time

A belated merry Christmas and happy New Year to all.

The twelve (or fourteen, according to the US ecclesiastical calender) days of Christmas have been busy ones at the Bonaventura household. Not much progress on the soul's journey, I'm afraid (though that long Christmas Eve confession was a step in the right direction). The Eldest Oyster, who hadn't been home for Thanksgiving, came down from college for an all-too-short visit (she's going home tomorrow). The in-laws arrived on Boxing Day and headed home on the 30th. Christmas dinner was wonderful, thanks to my Much Much Better Half and Daughter Number Two, who's the queen of desserts and made a chocolate, meringue, and mint chocolate chip ice cream Bûche de Noël. My only regret is that I had but one piece.

Last week was taken up with an intense, frustrating, and as yet unresolved struggle with the healthcare bureaucracy. More on this (maybe) anon.

All told, 2011 was a tough year chez Bonaventura. And while there's an uncertain and probably difficult road ahead, I, at least, am glad to be done with it. May there be sunnier days awaiting us!