First Person Singular » Holiday Cheer

Happy Independence Day!

wendy — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:06:34 +0000

Image: Flag 1, by Jasper Johns, 1973

Are We Single Because We’re Different?

wendy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:29:50 +0000

Last night, I participated in the annual ritual of the Seder (meaning “order”), during which Jews around the world are obliged to re-tell one of the greatest liberation stories ever told. There were 24 guests at the lively dinner I was invited to, 8 of whom were teenaged or younger, along with their parents, and a set of grandparents. I was the only unmarried adult in the room. I’ve been in this situation many times, but it still pierces my heart, as I look around at lives that look similar to mine, but, in so many ways, are not. Intrinsic to the Seder is the asking of questions. So I’ll throw one into the mix: Are we single because we’re different, or different because we’re single?

Image: Grosse Dame, 2007, by Christoph Ruckhäberle

Holy Night of the Oscars

wendy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:07:12 +0000

The only year I remember missing the Oscars is when my mother did the unthinkable and died a few days before, which brought me to the East Coast to mourn. My heart was breaking, and I couldn’t imagine sitting in front of the TV with everyone decked out and carefree. But my California buddies disturbed the shroud of silence when they phoned at midnight, to shriek about the results. During the San Francisco years, I’d go to my friend Dick’s house, where he always served up the best booze and food. I’ll be having my own crowd on Sunday, beginning with nosh and the Red Carpet, and later, Chicken Gumbo à la Emeril Lagasse. I’m betting on The Hurt Locker, Jeff Bridges, and please, make it be Meryl Streep.

VOTE update – top contenders are “ART SEEN” and “GALLERY.” New write-in vote: “ART WALL”

Happy Year of the Tiger

wendy — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:02:40 +0000

HERE’S OUR WINNER!!!!

Why It’s Great to Be Single on Valentines Day from Migtwig (who also shot this gorgeous photo):

It’s great to be single on Valentines Day because I can define the day however way I want to. And as it falls on a Sunday this year:

- In the morning, I can either sleep in or get up and call friends or family to catch up or read the paper or have brunch with friends.
- In the afternoon, I could go on a hike (the green lushness and the waterfalls this time of year in the Bay Area are amazing and inspiring) or I could take a nap or go see a matinee. And no, it doesn’t have to be a romantic comedy.
- In the evening, I could either have dinner with a friend or go on a date or stay home and get take out or work on an art project.
- I suppose I could also spend the day feeling completely sorry for myself, but the truth is, I’ve done that enough and it really does get old.
And as chocolates and flowers go, I live across the street from an amazing pastry shop and since I’m a floral designer, there are always flowers in my apartment.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Feeling the Love – Even If You Make it Up

wendy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:33:44 +0000

Yes. I’ve made peace with Valentines Day, but not the week leading up to it, when romantic love is bombarding me, and I don’t mean in a good way. The other day, I got ambushed while tuning into a favorite radio show, and even the stalwart Writer’s Almanac is featuring a week of literary love letters (although today’s are from Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, and how can you not enjoy that?) The only sane response is to buy a T-shirt. The latest is from Alexander Wang’s less expensive T collection, and it’s soft and chic. I’m in LOVE.

(Image: Design Sponge, a site of visual inspiration and useful, too! edited by Grace Booney)

Why It’s Great to Be Single on Valentines Day, reason #7 from Jen G.:

Sister Without a Mister Night! This started in my sorority, when the non-attached girls would go out to dinner and a cheesy chick flick that no man would ever willingly see. It still continues in my adult life and is a wonderful excuse to get together with my girlfriends who can relate to the unique ups and downs of being single.

Mouth-watering and Pink

wendy — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:25:39 +0000

For those of you sitting on the fence, DON’T. Last week, I previewed a CONTEST and here are more juicy prize details from L.A. Burdick, one of the country’s premier chocolate makers:

Bottom box: Full one pound assortment including hand-cut chocolate heart bonbons.
Middle Box: 20 Sets of Champagne truffles, dusted with confectioners sugar.
Top Box: Caramel Collection including triple caramels of mocha, apricot and vanilla.

Come up with the top reason why it’s great to be single on Valentines Day, and all of this can be yours (or if you’re masochistic, give it away.)

Here’s a recap -

Contest: Why It’s Great to Be Single on Valentines Day

wendy — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:00:13 +0000

Are you fed up with buying your own Valentines Day candy, or hoping a loved one will bring you some? We can change that. All you have to do is come up with the best reason why it’s great to be single on Valentines Day and we’ll deliver a box of yummy L.A. BURDICK artisanal chocolate to your home in time for the holiday.

Here are the ground rules. Uh, actually there are none. Comment as often as you like. You don’t have to be single to win (because how could I check). The winner will need to give us a first and last name, U.S. mailing address and phone number (for delivery purposes only). We’ll be gathering entries until January 28 and posting one great reason a day during the 10 days leading up to February 14.

Let the games begin…

LAST UPDATE: We have a winner!!!!!

Are You Looking Forward to a Midnight Kiss?

wendy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:10:07 +0000

Me, not so much. But I’m in love with this photograph by Irving Penn for a 1969 lipstick ad. HAPPY & HEALTHY 2010 everybody, filled with lots of love wherever you can find it!

Mid-holiday Limbo

wendy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:29:59 +0000

I’m having a rough holiday. During this weird week in between Christmas and New Years, I’m happy for the return of some of my favorite comforts. Two close friends who were out of town visiting family are back in the hood, as is a juicy, new issue of The New Yorker. (I’ll have to wait until January 4 for Jon Stewart.)

Traffic in L.A. remains refreshingly light, except near shopping hubs. On Christmas Day, I appreciated the utter stillness of American commerce coming to a halt (not counting the movie biz which had its greatest weekend ever!) And yet, I’m relieved that Noel, with its endless Carols and pressure to be encased in the perfect family unit, is now a full year away.

Here’s an inspiring post-Christmas comment from one of our readers, JEN:

This was the first Christmas of my entire 41-year-old life that I woke up in a home with no other people. My sister and I had always spent Christmas Eve night at my mother’s so we could wake up together, but my mother passed away last year and my sister is recently married and pregnant and, worse, her in-laws were coming. It hit me that I didn’t have a family of my own and I was going to have to be the tag-along with my sister’s this year.

I emotionally prepared for this week prior to Christmas by getting depressed and sharing my heartache with other (mostly single) friends. Some have never been married, some are divorced and a couple are recent widowers. Not all of them were willing to comfort me, but I discovered that a lot of people I knew were facing similar Christmases. Some of them had had to make these kinds of adjustments years before, when they were still in their tender youths.

I went out and bought nicotine patches. I used to smoke and the nicotine kicked right in like an old friend. I told my therapist, I’m not taking these off until after the holidays.

Finally, I made the crossing. I accepted the changes that were happening in my family. What a relief! I woke this morning alone in my apartment with my dog. (The dog helped greatly, as he has since I got him.) I drank coffee alone and enjoyed a leisurely morning. Then I loaded all the gifts in the car and the two apples pies I’d made and the dog. It was one of my best Christmases ever. I had made complete peace with my aloneness and I felt like a rock star.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry (or not, if you don’t feel like it)

wendy — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:38:41 +0000

I’m grateful to all who shared their wisdom for FIRST PERSON SINGULAR’s contest, Surviving the Holidays When You’re Single. Thank you for being a part of my family, and making it feel large and bountiful!

Most of your advice centered on preparing and eating delicious food, enjoying a stiff drink, and taking pleasure in a day where we have the latitude to do what we want, whether it’s being with loved ones, taking in some culture, or delighting in our own company. We have two WINNERS. Both will be receiving a copy of The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones

Drumroll, please….

JULES: for being so comprehensive, and covering it all; culture, food, drink, exercise

For me surviving the holidays is a multi faceted approach. First, stimulate your brain, more than usual. This includes museum and/or gallery outings, theatre, live music, having several excellent books on hand (these are my true solace), movies both at the theatre and rented, and spending time with people you don’t see regularly. Secondly, I find some type of cooking project I don’t partake in ordinarily during the rest of the year. This usually involves some sort of canning which is great for stocking the pantry and for gifting. I particularly enjoy listening to great music or watching a good sporting event on TV while doing this. Eugenia Bone has several helpful books on preserving if you need help or inspiration. Thirdly, if you have more spare time exercise more. It’s true this really helps everything. Better yet, try some form of exercise you haven’t done before. Finally, seek out good company, both with others and yourself. Also, I concur with William and Matty, a cocktail, especially carefully crafted, enhances all the above mentioned. I do most of the above year round but in a less focused condensed manner. The holidays demand extraordinary measures.
Happy Holidays Everyone!

ALTOON: because I will be enjoying Christmas night on the couch watching a movie with my pets. (Billy Wilder’s fabulous film, The Apartment)

I feel very happy spending time with myself, especially on New Year’s Eve. I cook something special for dinner, which usually means with meat (I mostly eat vegetarian), have a lovely glass of wine, and plunk myself down in front of the tv, dinner on my lap, cats too interested in my food, to watch a marvelous movie, a very long one, preferably a classic. Heaven!

this also works for xmas, saturday nights, birthdays, etc.

(And an honorable mention to Kimberly for giving a shout out to Isaac Newton)

Photo: Dancers’ legs at Radio City Music Hall, 1959. Dennis Stock / Magnum Photos