I was supposed to write this yesterday but I couldn’t because I’ve been fighting a massive depression and so yesterday I had an emergency ketamine treatment to try to pull me out of it.
I knew about the Icelandic Xmas tradition of exchanging books and reading them, usually while eating chocolate - the most important food group, I think. Also knew about the Yule Cat. Iceland is a fantastic place that everyone should visit. Best vacation I ever had! There is a book shop, usually with a café, in every tiny town. Marvelous place! Your Xmas sounds wonderful! Hugs!
I know I am a broken record writing this, but here I go again. Holidays are very tough when you don’t have friends and family. My husband and I put on brave faces and don’t celebrate. We pretend to be okay. It’s hard and sad. I received a pen friend holiday card today thanking me for being the best pen friend. This gave me some light. This community and my pen friends have continued to give me hope in my very darkest days. Thank you, Jenny, for this gift. I am so glad you are feeling a bit better because you are needed. Merry Christmas 🎄
Happy Holidays, Jenny, and fellow substackers! As usual, Jenny, thank you for bringing us much needed magic yet again through your words and art! What a perfect sounding Christmas Eve! I applaud you so much for getting the emergency ketamine boost-I'm sure it was the last thing on earth you had the energy to do, but you did it. I am so sorry that your depression has been roaring at you lately in stereo. Sending gentle hugs.
I'm definitely on the depression side of things myself-been crying on and off since yesterday. I am currently spending Christmas eve isolated because it finally happened after 4 years-my no covid streak is broken (I believe I know the source). Despite all of my extraordinary precautions it happened (hermit-ing, N95s when I go out, etc), and unfortunately for health reasons I'm not able to be covid vaccinated. I'm devastated because my husband is more than likely going to contract it from me and I'm worried about him. He's negative for now, but we are monitoring it.
Thank you for reminding me though that Christmas can be different for any and everyone and that is ok-that life fucking happens-shit happens, and there being Christmas happens. I'm going to celebrate today by texting my husband naggy texts to remind him it's his turn on Scrabble Go, I'll be binging Christine McConnell episodes through Patreon that I'm behind on, and I might organize my brand new jewelry armoire that I got for Christmas. Sending spoons (in this case holiday spoons) to those who need those today!
For even more Icelandic Christmas fun, check out the Yule Lads. My favorite is Þvörusleikir, aka “Spoon Licker,” who steals wooden spoons being used for cooking and is extremely thin from malnutrition.
We spent Christmas in Reykjavik a few years ago; they project images of the Yule lads getting up to mischief on buildings in the city center, and there's a rather imposing statue of the Cat. Add in the geothermal swimming pools on every corner (we spent Boxing Day swimming outside) and the oddly tasty Malt og Appelsin soft drink, and it's a place for Christmas magic!
Jenny, your posts are a big part of the wonderful things that make Substack such a worthwhile experience for me. The genuine love and vulnerability that you put into your writings, your drawings, your sweetness—all give me a heartfelt experience each time I read one of your posts. Thank you for taking the risk to share your gift with the world.
Happy Bookmas Jenny, I am sitting on my deck with my new Stephen King book, my dog chewing a new toy at my feet, with a cup of tea. Cool breeze is blowing through the lemon-scented gum and the lorikeets are squabbling over blossoms. Just breathing.
Our Christmas books won’t even be hidden in bags this year. Planning to simply lay them out . Only us here, and Izzy the cat. She found a tiny field mouse to chase around the living room last night. Didn’t kill it when she caught it. Played chase some more. We’ll be reading this eve too.
Happy to know that you are getting help to manage the depression. Too many people try to do it all on their own and most of them fail. Some tragically.
Jenny, I had to send this to my friend, Jazz. He told us about The Yule Cat* and I knew he'd not only appreciate your picture but your blog as a fellow soldier fighting the war on Mental Health. 🫡🤗
*I now tell our dog that our big, fluffy black cat Samwise aka SamSam is The Yule Cat and is out to get her. This makes her even more of a nervous wreck and amps up her natural Herder instincts. He's her Bah Bah Black Sheep. 🤣😂🤣
I knew about the Icelandic Xmas tradition of exchanging books and reading them, usually while eating chocolate - the most important food group, I think. Also knew about the Yule Cat. Iceland is a fantastic place that everyone should visit. Best vacation I ever had! There is a book shop, usually with a café, in every tiny town. Marvelous place! Your Xmas sounds wonderful! Hugs!
I desperately want to go.
We should do a group trip…separately.
How perfect 🤩
I know I am a broken record writing this, but here I go again. Holidays are very tough when you don’t have friends and family. My husband and I put on brave faces and don’t celebrate. We pretend to be okay. It’s hard and sad. I received a pen friend holiday card today thanking me for being the best pen friend. This gave me some light. This community and my pen friends have continued to give me hope in my very darkest days. Thank you, Jenny, for this gift. I am so glad you are feeling a bit better because you are needed. Merry Christmas 🎄
Happy Holidays, Jenny, and fellow substackers! As usual, Jenny, thank you for bringing us much needed magic yet again through your words and art! What a perfect sounding Christmas Eve! I applaud you so much for getting the emergency ketamine boost-I'm sure it was the last thing on earth you had the energy to do, but you did it. I am so sorry that your depression has been roaring at you lately in stereo. Sending gentle hugs.
I'm definitely on the depression side of things myself-been crying on and off since yesterday. I am currently spending Christmas eve isolated because it finally happened after 4 years-my no covid streak is broken (I believe I know the source). Despite all of my extraordinary precautions it happened (hermit-ing, N95s when I go out, etc), and unfortunately for health reasons I'm not able to be covid vaccinated. I'm devastated because my husband is more than likely going to contract it from me and I'm worried about him. He's negative for now, but we are monitoring it.
Thank you for reminding me though that Christmas can be different for any and everyone and that is ok-that life fucking happens-shit happens, and there being Christmas happens. I'm going to celebrate today by texting my husband naggy texts to remind him it's his turn on Scrabble Go, I'll be binging Christine McConnell episodes through Patreon that I'm behind on, and I might organize my brand new jewelry armoire that I got for Christmas. Sending spoons (in this case holiday spoons) to those who need those today!
For even more Icelandic Christmas fun, check out the Yule Lads. My favorite is Þvörusleikir, aka “Spoon Licker,” who steals wooden spoons being used for cooking and is extremely thin from malnutrition.
We spent Christmas in Reykjavik a few years ago; they project images of the Yule lads getting up to mischief on buildings in the city center, and there's a rather imposing statue of the Cat. Add in the geothermal swimming pools on every corner (we spent Boxing Day swimming outside) and the oddly tasty Malt og Appelsin soft drink, and it's a place for Christmas magic!
This sounds wonderful! I need to check out more Icelandic lore! I just hope Midsomar wasn't filmed there. Whew! Nobody needs that! 😂
Your Christmas Eve sounds perfect.
You are such a light, Jenny. Grateful you exist and make art and share your brain with this world
Jenny, your posts are a big part of the wonderful things that make Substack such a worthwhile experience for me. The genuine love and vulnerability that you put into your writings, your drawings, your sweetness—all give me a heartfelt experience each time I read one of your posts. Thank you for taking the risk to share your gift with the world.
Happy Bookmas Jenny, I am sitting on my deck with my new Stephen King book, my dog chewing a new toy at my feet, with a cup of tea. Cool breeze is blowing through the lemon-scented gum and the lorikeets are squabbling over blossoms. Just breathing.
Love to you and yours🎄♥️🐾
Sending you so much love. Christmas should be what we want it to be.
Our Christmas books won’t even be hidden in bags this year. Planning to simply lay them out . Only us here, and Izzy the cat. She found a tiny field mouse to chase around the living room last night. Didn’t kill it when she caught it. Played chase some more. We’ll be reading this eve too.
Happy to know that you are getting help to manage the depression. Too many people try to do it all on their own and most of them fail. Some tragically.
Sending gentle hugs and silly innuendos to help you through the days 🌻🌈💜
Jenny, I had to send this to my friend, Jazz. He told us about The Yule Cat* and I knew he'd not only appreciate your picture but your blog as a fellow soldier fighting the war on Mental Health. 🫡🤗
*I now tell our dog that our big, fluffy black cat Samwise aka SamSam is The Yule Cat and is out to get her. This makes her even more of a nervous wreck and amps up her natural Herder instincts. He's her Bah Bah Black Sheep. 🤣😂🤣
Merry Christmas! I hope your book reading time was joyous.
Wear the cape forever and a day, that cat sounds terrifying 🤣😭
A gorgeous picture and a lovely Christmas story! Thanks for sharing. x