sparkling black ink and white feathers

My book group book is - as lots of my book group books have been - not something I'd have picked to read. But I'm thoroughly enjoying it, a magical read in more ways than one, and I love that some of the pages have lines and stars - someone clever somewhere has made black ink seem to sparkle. It does seem to match the quotes on the front, such as dazzling and enchanting - or maybe I have been duped, as that is what the book is about - how we see what we have been made to see.

A long train journey meant that I not only got to read a good chunk then, but as I was so tired when I got back I couldn't bear an evening in front of my computer so read in the bath too, and feel thoroughly relaxed. Result. The temptation this morning was to "just make a start" on either of the enormous action lists from both yesterdays and Friday's meetings, whilst the children aren't here before church. But I'm not. If I work today too that becomes far-too-many-work-days-in-a-row.

I sat beside a family on the train and had some great conversations with the 6 year old. As she was getting up to disembark, she pulled a white feather from behind my ear. This seemed very fitting given my novel about illusions - I asked if it was hers or if she'd found it there. She told me it was there already, I said she could keep it (walking into my work meeting with a white feather behind my ear was not the look I was going for with my new boss). I was then particularly pleased with myself for after a rummage in my bag I was able to find another for her younger sister - it would have been a mean gift to the mother if i'd only given a feather to one of her children.

These are my favourite kind of gifts - random as opposed to forced (because it is Christmas) and free and already in existence rather than expensive and produced from a resource that could have stayed put/been made into something useful instead of clutter destined for landfill. But the best gifts are our time and thoughts. I have several friends who are grieving and my hope is I can show my love/hold them somehow. When I'm sad and lonely that's what I want most of all, to be held. When we're apart from those we love that's just not possible. The conjourers do all kinds of tricks - I'm wondering if I can somehow convey across the distance the warmth of my hug or hand. If you feel a squeeze later, you know I managed it ;)