Jólabókaflóð

It is not a secret that I love books. This year I learned about an amazing Christmas tradition in Iceland called Jolabokaflod where people give books and chocolate to their loved ones on Christmas Eve and they spend the night reading and eating chocolate.  I can’t image a more perfect holiday tradition for a book lover like me. 

This past fall I was lucky enough to actually visit Iceland.  It was amazing and exactly as wonderful as I hoped it would be.  The country is so beautiful and the people are incredible.  Needless to say I am a big fan of Iceland, so it is even more perfect that this fabulous holiday tradition comes from this amazing country.

This year I decided that my family could also celebrate Jolabokaflod.  I went to my favorite bookstore and chose a special book for everyone in my family.  I took my time and picked out a book that I thought perfectly fit everyone’s unique personality. I even made sure to send a book to my Son-in-law who couldn’t be here for Christmas because he had to work.  I was thrilled to include actual Icelandic chocolate bars for my husband and daughter; I had purchased them during my trip and hidden them away.  I also made sure to get some vegan chocolate for my younger daughter. 

Everyone liked their book choices, and I love the idea of everyone reading and enjoying their new books.  I think Jolabokaflod will become an annual tradition in our home. 

#MeAt14

With all the recent controversy surrounding Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, women have begun sharing photos of themselves at fourteen years old on Twitter with the hashtag #MeAt14.

Here I am in all of my awkward fourteen-year-old glory! 

At 14, my biggest concerns in life were;

·      Why didn’t my hair behave and do those perfect little Farrah Fawcett wings?  It wasn’t until much later in life that I began to appreciate my hair – full of natural body and curls.

·      How high school was going to be so scary? I survived the horrors of Junior High with the help of a few good friends, but I wasn’t exactly the popular type that would fit right into the high school scene.

·      What would I be when I grew up? It was such a big question.  I loved to write and I had toyed with the idea of journalism, but then my older sister came home and announced journalism as her major.  I was never one to copy others, so I shelved the writing idea and began to explore what else the world might have in store for me in the future.

·      Boys, like all 14 year old girls I wondered about boys.  Did any boys like me?  Did that one cute boy from English class even know my name?  Would I get asked to the homecoming dance?

These are all normal teenage thoughts. 

What I did not wonder about was whether or not a 30 year old man wanted to “date” me.  By the way – if a 30 year old man is with a 14 year old girl, it is NOT called dating, it is sexual abuse and he is a predator and a pedophile.

I don’t care what your politics are – 30 year olds should NEVER be “dating” a 14 year old.  14 year olds should be worrying about their algebra homework and the school dance, they should never ever be worrying about a 30 year old district attorney who is stalking them like prey.