It is two rooms away, waiting for me. The jumbo shrimp and the two pounds of mussels. The boneless chicken and the chicken stock. The short, white rice. The peas. The tomatoes. The white wine. The garlic. The magic golden red elixir, otherwise known as saffron. And in an hour, or maybe two or three, I'll unwrap and chop and marinate and begin preparing our traditional Christmas Eve paella.
Just now, in the dark, I am remembering friends. Those who have met life's hard challenges this year. Those grieving through loss. Those searching for a way to move past. Those living their lives with such grace and pluck that sometimes I cry for the sheer honorability of them, and for the smallness of my concerns set against theirs.
Just now I am remembering: This life of ours. This imperfect mix. This sheen and most essential gloss of Christmas.
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By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/24/2008
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/24/2008
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: paella, Christmas Eve, Add a tag
5 Comments on Christmas Eve Paella, last added: 12/24/2008
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What time is dinner? Sounds delicious!!
"This life of ours. This imperfect mix. This sheen and most essential gloss of Christmas." Beth, today I am playing/singing 2 services...this life of mine. One will be attended by a lot of homeless men, women and children, along with church members.....an imperfect mix. All will pray together, sing together, listen together, rejoice together, say AMEN together.....this sheen and most essential gloss of Christmas.
Love to you, Bill and Jeremy.
Merry Christmas, Beth.
A merry Christmas day to you both. Libby, enjoy your many mixing moments
Tapestry 100, thank you for your kind words about Into the Tangle of Friendship. An unexpected discovery on your blog.
Enjoy your Christmas dinner! And may the holidays bring you lots of dancing!
Merry Christmas! My husband loves to make paella. I'll mention your tradition to him, and perhaps that'll inspire him for next year.