Ode to Arlington

Tonight Holidailies asked me to describe why I love my neighborhood.

I live in the perfect spot as far as I’m concerned. Everything I need is nearby: parks, trails, grocery stores, drugstores, retail businesses, restaurants and night life, a public library, and several of my doctors, all within walking distance. It’s urban, but also has a lot of green space, including on the property where I live. The police and fire departments are top-notch, as are the schools, and there are two Metro stations nearby. I don’t even own a car.

The residents are pretty cool, too. They’ll leave an old TV out for someone to take, and the person who takes it will thank them.

A sign that says "Thank you for TV!" Signed "Neighbor."
I resisted the urge to read the writing inside.

But they won’t steal from local businesses.

Red chairs on the sidewalk in front of a restaurant.
These would be gone in 30 seconds flat in New York.

We have lots of Crows, too.

A Crow on top of street signs in front of an apartment building.
I love a good Crow silhouette.

Even the view from the ICU beds at the local hospital is lovely at sunrise.

Treetops and sunrise clouds through a window.
The most grateful moment of my life was seeing this from my bed–because I woke up and was alive to see it.

The only problem is that it’s impossible to buy around here unless you’re a bazillionaire.

A sign that says "New townhomes from $1.5 million."
That ain’t hay.

The rents are expensive, too, but between the green spaces, the public services, the things to do, the health care, and the general vibe of the place, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. After all, we’re consistently rated in the top five cities in the United States to live. This year, we’re number 2. I guess we’ll just have to try a smidge harder, heh.

Why do you love where you live? Or do you?

Where’s the Tylenol?

Tonight Holidailies asks: Your favorite — or least favorite — holiday scene in a movie.

There are a few that I cherish: Linus’s speech in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the leg lamp scene in A Christmas Story, or the kitchen scene in Gremlins. But this year, it’s the Clark Griswold Tylenol speech in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. He finds out that his Christmas bonus from his boss is a year’s subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club, and he tells his family he wishes his boss were there with them that night.

Side note: I had an outfit just like Juliette Lewis’s in that scene, minus the headband.

And that’s all for tonight. I think I’ll go stream the movie now.

What’s your favorite holiday movie scene?

Hyvää Vuodenvaihdetta!

One of my favorite things about Holidailies is the prompts. I’m a journalist, and usually by the end of the day the last thing I want to do think of something to write about, even if ultimately I enjoy it, so the random prompts are helpful in nudging me along.

Today Holidailies asked: Where do you fantasize spending your perfect December holiday time? It has to be somewhere you’ve never been before.

I would love to go to Finnish Lapland and stay in one of the bubble, dome, or viewing accommodations where I could see the northern lights from bed. Imagine having some hot chocolate, maybe with some peppermint schnapps mixed in, and gazing out at the sky and the scenery while warm and toasty under some warm blankets.

Northern lights in a dark sky
Northern lights in Finnish Lapland. (Image: Lucas Marcomini)

If I stayed near Rovaniemi, I’d go to Santa Claus Village, too. However, I would forgo sitting on Santa’s lap. I couldn’t lie to him and tell him I was nice when I was actually kind of naughty, heh.

It’s funny, but if anyone had asked me 10 years ago where I’d want to spend the holidays, it would have been someplace warm, possibly tropical, with lots of interesting and colorful birds flying around, but ever since I got into listening to Poets of the Fall in 2014, I’ve been fascinated with Finland. I’ve never been there, but I’ve been dying to go for about five or six years now and I was so very sad to have to cancel my Thanksgiving trip to Helsinki.

The country itself looks absolutely gorgeous, with lots of forest to lose oneself in, and I love cold weather and snow. But beyond that, it just seems like the Finnish people have their priorities straight on education, health care, equity and equality, and the environment. Plus, I’m all for a certain amount of introversion and personal space, being introverted and one who cherishes time alone.

Maybe I’ll be able to go in 2024.

P.S. “Hyvää vuodenvaihdetta!” is the equivalent of “season’s greetings!”