The darkest night of the year is fast approaching. Sunday morning marks the official beginning of winter, which as far as I’m concerned begins December 1, but there you go. This is the longest night of the year, followed the very next day by three more minutes of daylight. This is the nadir, the ground from which we begin the long climb back to spring.
It’s interesting that this marks only the beginning of winter. Every day of winter is slightly brighter than the one before, while autumn works in reverse. Spring and summer are the seasons of light (my favourite time). If you are sensitive to the seasons as I am, winter can be a sad time. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real, and I have learned to keep myself occupied with as many reasons to get up and go out as I can, or by February I forget why I should ever get up again.
Fortunately, here on the coast, February is also when daffodils begin to bloom and the first nettles sprout. I have come to appreciate February, which has the virtue of being short. I digress. I have blessings to count!
This year, we have more fun things going on than ever, and I am loving it, even as I drag myself out of bed to go to a class or to dance. Thanks to New Horizons sponsored classes, a membership gets me into Qi Gong, a strength class, and a writing class, with many more available if I had the time and inclination. Add to that our Ecstatic Dance group (contact me if you would like to join us) and the Songwriter Circle (Mondays at 7 pm at the Arts Centre, everyone welcome), both of which I am holding space, and keys, for, and I have plenty to keep me going through the winter.
It’s not just the classes. These groups provide inspiration and motivation to create. I am writing songs and poems and stories and memoirs, and yes, this column again. That is thanks to the Songwriter Circle and several writers groups I am involved in, three every week now.
That’s not even counting my radio show, the Songwriter Circle on Sundays from 1 to 3 pm on CHFR 96.5. You too could have a radio show. It’s easy and fun. Sunday evenings have opened up, as I have narrowed my focus to one show and let go of the Album Hours. There are many other open spaces on the schedule.
That’s just what I’m involved in. There are many things to do here. You could go to a Pilates class, African or contemporary dance classes, outings to town for theatre or bowling, a book club, a life drawing group, a hiking group, and that’s only a partial list. Thanks to the Arts Centre, we have a gorgeous space to meet and dance in, and more arts related events than ever. And we still have our beautiful Community Hall, where we can dance (New Year’s is coming!) and watch incredible concerts, such as Shari Ulrich and the Unfaithful Servants, that was absolutely stellar and if you missed it, I’m sorry.
Depending on the day of the week, we have more places to munch lunch with friends too. There’s the new Thatch, which I haven’t been to yet but it exists. There’s the Cove. There’s Forage. For the well heeled, there’s the Seabreeze, where you can eat, drink, and have all kinds of fun, though not for free. For the less well heeled, Joe’s Café is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The soups, scones, and treats are so good, and you can sit by the fire and keep warm. I have been watching the new Vorizo building, wondering when they will open. Mmm, burrito.
Christmas is coming, followed closely by New Year’s Eve, and I am excited to dance to the Odus Haven Band, aka the Atkinson family and friends, a guaranteed fun time.
This is a departure from my usual opinion-having streak, but it’s time to take stock. What is there to do on this island in the winter? A lot, it turns out. I don’t expect to have time to be depressed. Come to think of it, I had my own long dark winter last summer. I did nothing but lie about on drugs, depressed and in pain. I’m better now and excited about this season to come, maybe for the first time ever. I have not been a lover of winter.
Starting Sunday, the days start getting longer. Christmas comes soon after the longest, darkest night. This is a hard and lonely time of year for many, but this year there is a community Christmas feast at Joe King, so no one needs to be alone if they don’t want to be. I am sentimental about this season, but also, Christmas let me down so many times, starting with catching my mom filling my stocking at age 6. Oh Santa! I still grieve. My feelings for Christmas confuse me, so of course I wrote a song. Christmas tugs hard on my heart.
To hear my Christmas song, go to my Bandcamp page, phoenixbee.bandcamp.com, and click on “Something About Christmas.” You can listen for free or download the track for a dollar. And while you’re there, have a listen to my other stuff too, if you like.
May blessings find you this Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or whatever form of the season is special for you. There are many ways to celebrate the returning light, and I wish you the very best experience of it.
That’s what I think! What do you think? Email me at phoenixonhornby@gmail.com
