Love Actually

Coming off a long happy Thanksgiving weekend in Philadelphia where old friends and new, and a 8 month old Lab named Jimmy Page, gathered in my friend Karen's 200 year old colonial house (where I even earned a Norwegian nickname Liv - pronounced Leave - "Life!"), post Thanksgiving life back in New York felt a little abrupt.

'Tis the season for holiday magic and enchantment, and it can also be the time of year for burning the candle at both ends, ragged nerves, stress, sadness and heartache.

On Thanksgiving day, I got news that a good friend's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and she was only able to communicate with us by email as couldn't talk on the phone without crying. Others are in the midst of family fights, the worst kind of fights. Another close friend in New York with three little kids had a holiday 'surprise' this week when a pipe burst in construction in the apartment above their loft at 3pm. The rain from above has caused incredible damage to all furniture, rugs, ceiling, walls and floors and they are living with the smell of mildew - "We're a hot mess right now", she said. My cousins celebrated their first Thanksgiving without their mom, my Aunt Ruth, and Thanksgiving 11 years ago was also the last time I saw my own mother before she passed away unexpectedly just before Christmas.

It can be a tough time of year.

Though I have vowed not to complain about it this year ("You don't live in California any more, get over it," tough love Stacy remarked the other day), the weather has finally caught up to the calendar, and its also becoming darker and colder.

The other night, rushing past Bryant Park when I was running late for evening plans, I almost missed the the tree, illuminating the darkness with light.

And another evening, a small grassroots choir unexpectedly brought beauty and peace to a grim and rather charmless subway station.

And then a message on how to live well on the wall of a cozy West Village restaurant.

In the midst of life , which can be difficult, you don't want to miss the point of the season, and what it's all about:

Which is to Love

However and whenever you are able.