Bye-bye, November

I always make sure to walk through the flower market on my way from work. It is there even in the late evening hours, flowers keeping strong in the cold. Today I haven’t seen the usual orchids, and those red and pink beauties, today there were small fir-trees and wreaths with pinecones. Their message was clear: November has moved out, December is now in. At this very moment the church bells chimed through the square, making everything feel like a cozy Scandinavian fairytale. And I was thankful that I didn’t plug headphones in my ears like I usually do.

The Christmas lights hang across the street, and every time there is someone reaching for his phone to snap a picture. Christmas music sounds from the shops, and I think: “Nice try to make it all look cozy and nice. When it is biting cold, and the streets are icy. And the dark hours are more than the light ones”. Then I hear a kid passing by talking joyfully about “the yummy pancakes”. In that moment I envy that kid’s energy. Where do they take it in this dark period? I usually never have this feeling – but now I would like to see the world with the kid’s eyes. No Monday blues, no winter blues, no knowledge about melatonin and serotonin and their effect on our mood, no longing for another place I have seen in December, that was full of sunlight and singing parrots. Just eyes wide open, with the reflection of the Christmas lights in them, and touching the Christmas tree set up in front of the church – which must appear just the size of that church in his eyes. Not afraid of the ice on the streets, but sliding cheerfully on it. And not thinking about the distant sunny place – just living in the moment.

On my way I stop to buy some groceries. The idea pops: let’s buy pancakes. Thank you,  kid! There must be some bonus to be an adult – and here is one: I can choose for myself what I will eat this Monday evening! So I pick up a pack of ready pancakes and cottage cheese. There will be pancakes stuffed with cottage cheese, topped with honey. Or maybe, Nutella and banana slices, just as they do in crepes in Paris? (When we were laughing with Michelle “Let’s eat some crap!”, and the crepes guy was sending us flirty looks, or so it seemed).

November has passed so fast. I write a list of nice things to do in December, wondering at how much I can tick off on the November list. At least here are the photo impressions of this November. Mostly taken in my favorite spot, the botanical garden of Oslo and around it.

Italian cafe in Norwegian conditions

gray and black and white

the sun gives the color

shine through

exotic leaves frosted

a girl with a dog and some November light

crystals of ice

on their way to hockey game

sleepy and dreamy

cold but beautiful

And the November color scheme will be white. White of the frosted leaves, white of the sky under the blackness of barren trees, white snow covering the greens.

Have you winked good-bye to November with a light heart? Which color did it have in your life this year? Let me know which of the images resonate mostly with you.