Solstice Soiree ~ 5th Annual

For the past 5 years, there has been a winter solstice party here on Mountain Ave - always on the night of the solstice, always complete with a raucous yankee swap. I had never even heard of yankee swaps until moving to Boston (go figure...) and ever since FINALLY getting invited to one of Mike's soirees a few years ago (I guess as the girlfriend you're automatically in) I now feel like I too am a bonified yankee. This year's top gifts included a combo gift set of a crow bar/educational poster set on "Respect" and "Responsibility." Did you know that Responsibility means meeting someone's expectations to the best of your ability? This credo was finely illustrated with 2 laughing children washing a dog (to the best of their ability). I was never big on other people's expectations (just ask my parents...) But i liked the poster on Respect - something about taking into consideration other people's feelings, thoughts, and beliefs. As a full time therapist at a methodone clinic, I almost have this one down. I'm practicing on Mike :) The anonymous benefactor of this crowbar/educational poster dynamic combo has been to the solstice soiree year after year and was proud that his contribution was so popular that it actually was "frozen" (in yankee swap terms, this means people wanted it so bad, that aftr it's third trade it couldn't be swapped again.) He mentioned "I finally understand what constitutes a good gift at the soiree, something kind of manly and out-there at the same time."
Other popular swap gifts included: a ceramic ET and a handmade furry vest covered in red fuzzy balls, perfect for the playa or anytime really. Personally, I was all set after swapping for the "rabbit" (those wine openers that make wine opening easy, no matter how much you've already consumed) and had literally put it away in the cabinet (a little presumptuous apparently) when one of the last swappers, swapped for it! even the hostess is not immune to yankee hell.
Another highlight included some yankee mischief involving 2 manly, out-there culprits who shall remain nameless, but who somehow managed to screw up the whole number picking system, putting duplicate numbers in the hat, so that every once in awhile, 2 people had the same number. nothing a little rock, paper scissors couldn't solve however...
There were also many hand-made gifts contributed to the swap - from home-brew to earrings to photography to scarves. We are truly blessed to know so many generous and creative folks! Not to mention Bridgit, Mike's sister who designs and creates the beautiful invites each year. We've got to get her to come down next year from Maine.
Personally I have been a fan of the solstice for a long time. Winter solstice, summer solstice, fall and spring equinoxes, there's something magical about them to me. I guess because, though Pagan in their roots, they are also a scientific and natural phenomenon, that each year on the winter solstice, the night is the longest, and we then begin our return to the light, as Earth turns toward the sun once again and the days lengthen bit by bit till spring equinox, where day and night are in balance, to summer solstice the longest day, to fall equinox - again in balance and equal and then back to winter solstice again. This cyclical universe is truly a wonder to behold. I love how the solstice celebration gathers together many of our beloved friends year after year and has become it's own family tradition - one that is not in the name of Christ or stories from the Bible, but in believing in the miracle of what is right in front of us - laughter, giving, friendship, connection and the beauty of the longest night - year after year after year.