Pajama Party!

Just as Liza has been featured in my Blips for Christmas for the last three years, our women's brunch and storytelling party is now a regular feature of my January 1st journal. As I've said in years past, this has become my favorite event of the year. Every year is different - different players, different kinds of stories - but every year is delightful and sets the tone for the new year.

Today, we were having a discussion about tribal singing or circle singing. A couple of us were trying to describe it and Kendall suggested, "Let's just do it." So we spent five or ten minutes creating some lovely spontaneous sounds with our voices. The energy was palpable - grounded yet vibrant. Even Liza was affected by it. She'd been on high alert since before our guests arrived, but the singing settled her right down.

There were stories of childhood, an amazing poem about crows, a chapter from one's first novel, an original song. Everyone was rolling on the floor when I read a Dave Barry piece, "Roger and Elaine: A Love Story" that describes beautifully - and hysterically - the differences in the way men and women think (or don't think) about relationships. Laurie read from a children's book set in Alaska. Good food was consumed, laughter was abundant, hugs were exchanged.

Another successful start to a new year!