Snowy Fields - December
Merry Christmas from The Sidecar
Merry Christmas
I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas this year. I hope that you have the opportunity to celebrate the season with your loved ones and reflect on the miracle of Christ’s entrance into the human world so many years ago.
Winter in Michigan
I used to take walks with my dog during Christmas break throughout high school and college. About a hundred yards from our driveway, a road called Sorby intersects the Main Street of the village. A quarter mile down it turns from pavement to a mixture of gravel and dirt. It passes by a small handful of houses, a water treatment plant, and many open fields. Further down, trees on either side form a tight canopy over the road, becoming tighter in the winter as their leafless branches droop under the weight of ice and snow. When the ground is coated in white, the walk is quiet. Without any traffic around, the sounds of the wind and snow crunching beneath boots are my only companions. My dog, Riley, isn’t around this year to take these walks, adding to the chorus the rustling of frozen leaves or the jangling of his collar. Although the company I keep is different now, I still walk and seek the winter quiet.
As the final chapter of 2020 comes to a close, I hope that you find a little bit of time to seek the quiet also. Let your focus shift to the year ahead, thinking about the goals that you will achieve and the relationships that you will invest in. I would love to hear about what you plan to do.
See you in the New Year.
Cheers,
Extras
What I’m Reading
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles - Back in September I read Towles’ debut novel, Rules of Civility, which remains a highlight of my reading in 2020. A Gentleman in Moscow wins out as my favorite work of fiction that I’ve read this year. With the manners of C-3PO and the suave of a cloaked Antonio Banderas, Count Alexander Rostov stars in this witty and charming novel taking place in early 20th century Russia. The tumultuous political climate overshadows the lives of Count Rostov and his comrades. A connoisseur of literature, cuisine and wine, the Count’s sophisticated upbringing complements his escapades in the Metropol Hotel. Childlike excitement, intriguing international romance, and censorship by the state all strike the Count in their own way. This book is a great adventure, even if the protagonist is confined to the four walls of a Moscow hotel.
What I’m Watching
A bunch of Hallmark Christmas movies - A professor of mine used to co-host a podcast with a special holiday tradition. As I recall, the hosts wrote their own plot summaries based on a movies’ title, and compared them to the actual plot summaries all within some competitive structure. I’ve adopted this as an exercise of the imagination while getting into the Christmas spirit. Once you’ve seen a few, writing cheesy, whimsical renditions of your own is a whole lot of fun.
What’s Playing
Christmas covers: Last Christmas by Arlo Parks, Winter Wonderland by beabadoobee, and In the Bleak Midwinter by James Blake are standouts in my book for this year. My default soundtrack continues to be Michael Buble’s Deluxe album, but a little change never hurt.
Thank you for reading, I sincerely appreciate it. I would love to hear from you, whether it be your thoughts on anything above, or any recommendations on food, wine, movies, books, etc. that could find their way into a future issue. Or simply drop a note to say hello! Reach me at writejohnduffy@protonmail.com - I look forward to hearing from you.
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