The 21st of December – the winter solstice, one of my all-favourite days. I love descending into this darkness and mystery, so magical and spiritual. And if it is going to be cold, let’s draw the blinds and snugly up to the fire!
Edmonton winter is as it should be these last weeks: that means cold and snow and glorious sunshine too. I have fun seeing my long noon-time shadow cast into the snow. I welcome this cold as it is consoling amid all the météo-drama we have been going through. As the lady at Safeways said to me today, “Winter is behaving!”
This week is full steam ahead on Christmas prep. Much food organization is happening. I hope I am not going overboard, but my son and daughter-in-law are coming to be with us. I do not want to spend my time in the kitchen but I do want delicious stuff to eat. It might be verging on the out of hand: I now have two large bags of lemons. I forgot I had put lemons on my husband’s weekend shopping list and then I bought another bag today. And where to fit all the dishes and supplies – especially when the turkey comes trotting in later this week and wanting prime real estate in the fridge. The cooler on the deck is an alternative, except it is more of a deep freeze than a fridge.
Among all this tralala, I had a strange interlude Monday morning. I have been protesting a parking ticket since September because the ParkEd parking app deceived me. I use and know this app well, but we fell out, and I got a ticket. I may be guilty of app mismanagement, but I feel it is unfair to give me a ticket, so, I am, on principle, fighting it, all $50-worth of it. I have spoken with some pleasant city hall people who said my only option if I did not want to pay, was to plead not guilty, this would, or should, let me go and present my case and I would be sent a court date. In the meantime, I got various reminders to pay, including one which said my court day to appear before a Justice was December 20 from 8:30 to 3. This did not quite correspond to what I had been told on the phone, however, I was not going to risk not being there. There were threats of warrants for my arrest if I failed to make it.
It was not actually, till Sunday evening that I faced that the 20th was the next day. Bit of panic, but I got my papers together and prepared for a day at the courthouse.
7:45 am saw we waiting at a cold bus stop and I got to the court building for 8:15 (I did not want to pay for a whole day of downtown parking – hence the bus) Well, I got no further than the security lady, who was, bless her, very helpful. She asked why I thought I should be there. I showed her my papers; she looked at her docket list and said, no, I was not there, and anyway, they do not do parking appeals in person! There I was, my backpack with the water bottle, the sandwich, an apple, my knitting, a book, a magazine and my iPod, ready for a day of waiting. Not to be, no eloquent defence to the justice, no getting the book finished! I told myself to take the attitude that this was an adventure and snapped a photo of the mighty city Christmas tree in the morning half-light. So, what happens now? $50s-worth for principal sake is turning out to be a lot of work!
But there are mightier concerns and problems out there, oh my! Oh, omicron! Such a pain, and at this season of the year. Patience and goodwill my friends. And the very best wishes for the winter solstice, Christmas and/ or seasonal greetings. 2022 will be more adventures and interesting times!