Issue #175: That Time I Walked (Back) Into a Holiday Party

Doing "the work" in tiny moments.

📚 Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark: I was enchanted by

Georgia Clark

’s story of the Belvedere siblings, who return to their famous mother’s house for Christmas. Each is facing a romantic crisis: Violet has fallen in love with the star of the series she’s a showrunner for, Rafi’s proposal to his girlfriend was dramatically, publicly declined, and Birdie’s career as a stand-up comic may be over, but a chance encounter with an artist may lead to romance… cozy reading that’s perfect for today!

📺 “A Man on the Inside” on Netflix: Ted Danson is a national treasure. In this new(ish) series, he plays a retired professor grieving the loss of his wife from Alzheimer’s, when he comes across a “help wanted” ad to aid a private investigator by going under-cover in a retirement home. The stakes are as low as Danson is delightful, i.e. very.

🎥 ‘The Room Next Door,’ in theaters: Mortality is at the forefront of Pedro Almodóvar’s first English language feature, an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s What Are You Going Through. In it, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) learns that an old friend of hers (played by Tilda Swinton) is battling cancer, and has elected to kill herself through a euthanasia pill. The friendship takes on an entirely different tone from their younger years, partying in New York, when they move upstate together and have long conversations around their lives and meaning.

Let’s begin with a somewhat embarrassing story, shall we?

Last week was the final full week before my friends departed to head home for the holidays, so I packed it in with social plans. By Friday, I had one more holiday party to go to, but also felt like I was approaching maximum social capacity. I told myself I would stop by for half an hour, then head home for a cozy night in.

As soon as I walked in the front door, I was struck by how gorgeous and intimate my friend and her husband had made their home. ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ played on the television above the lit fireplace, and they had set out the most gorgeous spread of snacks and pre-batched cocktails, with handwritten notes that included bespoke names and serving instructions. Not only that, but the party had just started, and was already filled with people I adore. I snacked and chit-chatted for thirty minutes at which point, I stuck to my plan, said my goodbyes, and headed home. The realization struck me almost as soon as I stepped outside: I wished I was still at the party.