I have a lot of fun entertaining and chatting with guests in the elevator. I have so much Seattle-joy and silliness to share that sometimes it overflows even my normal enthusiasm. On one ride down that night, I gave my standard “if anyone has any questions…” prompt, but when no one spoke up I shared my guilty pleasure: singing in the elevator when no one else is there (great acoustics and way cooler than singing in the shower!) and threatened to break into Christmas carols. People called me on it then listened as I sang a solo verse:

There’s no place like home for the holidays
No matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home!

“Seattle is my home, I’m so happy to be here and I hope you are too! Thank you all for coming to the Space Needle tonight and Merry Christmas!!” I’ll be here all week. I was tickled and flushed and oh so happy. My final ride of the night I made the same threat, then a woman said “why don’t we all sing?” and led us in a glorious chorus of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, ending just as we touched down. Best shift ever.

All decked out for Seattle Santarchy 2013. Photo by IRDeep, http://facebook.com/irdeep

I celebrated Christmas day at my mother’s house with family. My sister’s boyfriend Dave joined us for his very first ever Christmas; we tried to ease him into it but instead accidentally threw him in the deep end, discussing religion and making him pass out all the presents. 😛 I am usually a rather prolific and joyful gift giver, but it was nice to tone down gifts financially a bit this year and just enjoy the holiday and each other’s company. We ate beautifully the whole day, beginning with a champagne brunch, nibbly cheese/crackers/veggie/salmon lunch, and a steak dinner at my mother’s lovely table. We were visited by my stepsister and her husband at lunch and then my grandma for dinner, after which we played trivia games and listened to folk music (anyone with a Boston connection needs to memorize “Charlie on the MTA” immediately, btw). A chill and happy Christmas indeed.

Me and my sister Laura taking in a midday Christmas hot tub. Photo credit: my mom! 😛

“The Space Needle is 605 feet tall and was built back in 1962…” Photo courtesy of JD Andersen.

Boxing Day. A day of detox, filled to the brim with awesomeness. It started with a morning at the Museum of Flight with my “travel buddy” JD. It was a super cool museum! We saw planes of all types, astronaut admin and gear, moon rovers (that must make it to the burn!), Space Needle memorabilia, Blue Origin’s Charon, so much more, and walked through the fake Space Shuttle used for training and the Air Force One that took Nixon to China. Extra baller to experience it all with someone who has the perspective of being in the space industry.

Keeping the fun going, we continued to the old Rainier Brewery for a surprise spa day. As I lay there being massaged and feeling crazy spoiled, I struggled to bring my mind to peace. My thoughts kept wandering, even as I wrangled them back to the present. Partway through, I realized that there was direction to many of my thoughts: I kept being led back by multiple threads to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. I released my mind and let myself go back there, that place where I met so many, felt so relaxed and free, at such a critical junction in my growth last year. After a bit of extra basking in post-massage glow (I love how aware you feel of your body after; it always makes me want to move with intention and creativity), we capped it all off with happy hour sushi. Thank you JD for a lovely day!

After dinner, I headed to a viewing of “The Room” at Central Cinema (loved!) down in my old hood. Known as the Citizen Cain of bad movies and a cult favorite, it was all new to me but sure to be a blast. Beforehand, I almost died laughing en route to the theater as my friend Shaun made it rain Jeffersons all over the street. (That’s 10% of a high school cuddle right there! And I don’t even care because I’m an ADULT!) The movie did not disappoint and was insane with audience chanting, a crazy nonsensical “plot”, curry popcorn, throwing plastic spoons at the screen, and the most stilted dialog every uttered by human beings. The scene below was replayed for us five times in the theater so we could absorb all the nuances. Shaun, you only take me the classiest places.

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After the faerie dust of Christmas settled, I couldn’t help but remember how difficult my life was one year ago at this time. The morning of the 27th, I snuggled into my bed, feeling reflective, surrounded myself with pillows, and dug out my journal from November 2012 to February 2013. My writings from that time are a swirl of anguish. Ben and I were in an on-going spiral of agony where I was filled with pain and confusion and fear, I had just left a job I loved, it was the one-year anniversary of my Grandmother’s death, the future was uncertain (I didn’t even know what continent I was going to travel to); tension was everywhere.

This year, instead I feel so happy to be here and now, connected to so many incredible people, having so much fun, reaching out to friends and loved ones who touch my life in wonderful ways. Thank you to everyone who made this Christmas and past year so special.

All my love and wishes for a wonderful 2014 to you all,
Erin