Blankets and books

Gifts for the strangest winter

A rare chance to go for a sled ride this winter.

Earlier today, while watching my sweet toddler, I was gently reminded of one of the reasons I’m so committed to writing. While he was (mostly) happy playing with blocks, I was flipping through a copy of MplsStPaul magazine. I had gotten my mom a gift subscription for her birthday, maybe two years ago. When the renewal notice came, I thought for a moment and added a subscription for me - a gift to myself. With two little kids, I knew I wasn’t going to be out and about as much in the Twin Cities as I would like, but I could at least make an effort to stay in-the-know about what was going on around town. I’m so happy I subscribed. While it’s not a perfect publication (which doesn’t exist — and if it does, please tell me via the comment button below), it’s chock-full of fantastic writing about life in the Twin Cities metro - restaurants, arts, culture, history and more.

Today, I paused at an article about jury duty, featuring a photo of our county’s government center downtown. Having been called to jury duty for the first time only a few months ago, my interest was piqued. After reading the piece, which was a lovely reflection on a semi-universal experience, I was reminded how writing can make us feel less lonely, and I made a mental note to get my next piece up here on Substack as soon as I could.

I’ve gone a little longer than I’d like since writing here last, but my goal is currently every 7-10 days, and it’s been just over two weeks. Life has been full-on in that time, from the passing of my husband’s beloved Grandma Carol, to infertility awareness advocacy day at the Minnesota State Capitol, and finally, preparing our sweet boys for both day care transitions (more days for them! So many feelings), and a retry at ear tube surgery for our youngest in a few weeks. In-between the big stuff is The Little Things: finding the right size diapers just before running out, going to therapy and the gratitude that comes after, the feeling at the end of a work day that ended up going pretty well in spite of a curveball or two.

A circle drawn around all of this, life in the past few weeks when I’ve been “absent” here, is some very, very strange weather. Living in Minnesota (my home state) has always been a rollercoaster when it comes to weather and seasons (especially winter), but this one is completely BEYOND. First of all, last I heard we have had less than eight inches of snow the entire cold season. Whoa. This is usually accumulated in just a few snowstorms, so it’s extremely bizarre. And in the past few days, we’ve gone from temperatures of nearly 60 degrees down to five, and we’ll nearly hit 70 this weekend. We shake our heads, try to wear the right amount of clothing, and wonder what next winter will be like.

This twilight zone of non-winter has had me floundering as I try to recall the types of things I usually enjoy this time of year, and now with the days getting longer (hooray!), the feeling of spring and new growth has started to add some energy and a spirit of renewal.

A few weeks ago, I was so very delighted to come home to a few packages from Thriftbooks.com. I wondered who might have sent them - my family often sends things for the boys without any notice - maybe it’s from them? Or maybe from one dear friend of ours who lives out of state (but is soon to be a nomad along with his talented wife and their sweet dogs) - he’s sent a package from there before.

As soon as I open the packages, I know who sent them - my best friend who lives one state over. She’d recently recommended the novel, and the three kids’ books are guaranteed to be a hit - as a seasoned kindergarten teacher, she has unparalleled taste in the genre. I smile and feel the warm fuzzies any book lover would. I snap a photo to text her as both acknowledgement and thanks.

The sweet gesture is a gentle nudge that reminds me: books “get us through” this season of winter, even if it’s a weird one. Books get us through any season, especially if it’s a weird one.

Blankets, too. The thoughts I’ve been tracking alongside the normal day-to-day chatter, that must fill a similiar place in other writer’s heads, began to come together and into focus as I tucked my son in for a soon-to-vanish morning nap. Blankets are with us through the seasons, too. The small, extra cozy one my mom sewed by hand for me as an adult, that makes my baby’s sweet eyes droop as the soft fabric touches his skin. And laid over top, a gift from our niece to our boys two Christmases ago: a tie-dyed fleece blanket, just right for their tiny bodies. This one has tufts of fleece all around, knots holding the two pieces of material together. A few of them brush his cheeks, as I tuck the sides in around his sweet little body.

Books and blankets. Music. Sunshine. Days filled with hot soup. These are the gifts that will sustain us, through a strange winter and beyond.

Until next time, think spring. ~ Nikki

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A note: Stripe, the payment processing site for Substack, isn’t happy with a different business platform I currently have connected to it, and they’re saying they’re going to close down my account. I’m in the process of appealing, but if you feel like becoming a paid subscriber and you’re reading this before April, could you please consider supporting me via Venmo this time instead? My handle there is @nicolenavratil, or if you need a hand, just email me: nicoleknavratil@gmail.com. My posts are always shared free of charge, and I know some folks like to support my Substack financially, so I wanted to provide this update about Stripe. I’ll comment below if/when the appeal is approved and things are moving easily again through their platform. Thank you!