Snowbound in London

OK, we'll ignore the fact that it's about a month and a half since I've written anything (I like to ignore inconvenient truths - seriously, how do people blog every day?). Let's focus instead on the fact that it's Friday, December 3, and I haven't been in school since midday on Tuesday, November 30. The entire United Kingdom has been paralyzed by early season snow. Three and a half snow days?!?! Before Christmas?!?! If I'd wanted snow like this, I would have applied to teach in Switzerland! Cali and Brooke haven't been too thrilled to have to wear their sweaters (or jumpers, as the case may be).

On the plus side, since I'm in Central London, which has not been hit as hard as the outskirts, I haven't been trapped in the flat. Definitely makes me glad I chose to live where I do. I've been able to go out every day - see Christmas lights, do my Christmas shopping. I even got to my favorite pizza place - Delfino's near Grosvenor Square. If I had been livig closer to school, it would have been just me and the dogs, with some blankets and DVDs. Which would have been fine fora day or so, but now we don' go back to school until Monday, and I would have gone stir crazy by now if I hadn't been able to get out and about.

I've also been able to put up my Christmas decorations. They look nice, and I like having them up, but I kind of feel like a fraud - everything is all festive, and I'm listening to the music, but every time I try to watch a Christmas movie or show, I start crying. And, I suspect it will just get worse whenI get back to New York. These are the last major holidays to get through in the first year, and I'm worried. I'll go to Ann and Bill's for Christmas Day, but what about Christmas Eve? That's always been such a big night, and I don't know if anyone in Mommy's family will host it this year. After all, Mommy's the one who kept everyone together after Mama and Papa died. Now who's going to do it? I'd consider it, but my new apartment is too full of boxes to host a dinner party. Then there's the fact of seeing the house empty for Christmas - with no decorations. I remember what it felt like seeing Gilbert Place empty for the first time on Christmas Eve, and this will be a lot worse. Anyway, I don't want to think about it now. I'm trying to force myself to enjoy the season because I know Mom and Dad wouldn't want me moping around, but it's not easy. Sometimes it seems OK, then suddenly it all goes very dark.

Well, tomorrow I'll hit another Christmas fair, sort the presents I bought, and put up my remaining decorations and lights. And, maybe, I'll manage to write about what I did for Thanksgiving, or as it's known here, Thursday, 25 November. I took the anti-holiday approach this year. Until next time . . .