I didn’t expect to write something tonight–I’ve delved way too deep into a bottle of Bordeaux. However, as I’m busy preparing my New Year’s Eve dinner, table for one, something hit me. I thought it was important enough to stop and share it with you tonight. (Writer’s caution: There may be a few more typos and grammatical errors than usual in tonight’s post. I hope you’ll forgive me–blame the Bordeaux.)
I have been binge-watching “Bridgerton” on Netflix, while speaking and texting with friends from around the world. Never before has there been a year where we all seem to be aligned in a common objective: 2020 – GTFO…Ciao..Move on! There’s even an Italian hashtag, #Vaffanculo2020. It’s quite the thing on Twitter and Instagram. It simply means, 2020 – Go F-yourself, F-off, or simply, F-you. Well, I don’t blame the world or the italiani for this. It’s time to tell 2020 to go in the most forceful way one can imagine. We need a collective swell of energy to send off this year and all of its costs: loss, disruption, separation and divisiveness. The entire world has paid a price this year.
As you can see, the clock on my oven reads 20:09, or 8:09 p.m. It’s time to start my New Year’s Eve dinner, table for one. I can’t even count on Sofia to accompany me to Chez Moi tonight. She is fast asleep on her bed, but I think she has also decided that she wants 2020 to GTFO. She’ll wake up tomorrow to 2021 and be hopeful like all of us.
What I am thinking about tonight is the importance of connection with others. If I have learned anything this year, it is how fragile our souls are without the daily interaction of those that are close to us or the strangers that are sprinkled in for excitement. Those interactions bring us something unique: the importance of maintaining life-long friendships and family bonds, the other with the need to be continually connected to new ideas, cultures and people that increase our understanding.
Lately, I have been mourning the loss of connections with people. So much of my happiness comes from the interactions I have when I travel and meet complete strangers. These are people in the streets, cafes, bars or restaurants. Many times, it’s just people in the park while walking Sofia. They all make meaning of a crazy world, and they keep me wondering what else is out there to be discovered–all that is unknown, new and strange.
I do believe you should end the year, as you would like the new year to begin. So tonight, I am making it as special as possible. I’m cooking a great meal and practicing loads of self-care and gratefulness.
I found my favorite pasta (spaghetti alla chitarra – or guitar strings), clams, wine, and loads of garlic. This is classic spaghetti alla vongole. It’s one of my favorite meals, and I refuse to let-up on the garlic. Let’s face it, nobody is smelling my breath in the morning. I’m going all-in on the aglio. If anyone gets near me the next few days, they’ll know exactly what I have been up to with one whiff. I hope Sofia can stick around for the aftermath.
The point is, if you are alone tonight having your own table for one or maybe settling for a quiet night with your children, partner, or family members…it’s ok. Go all-in on whatever it is you are doing–even if you would have chosen something different.
End this year as you would begin the next. Be present…be real…be grateful.
The next year is coming, and with it, a renewed opportunity to start something new and different, or double-down on staying the present course. Either way – it’s ok. However, just remember to stay connected. Stay connected to yourself first, then seek out connections with those that need it the most or the ones that you need the most. There will be a lot of need in 2021. We can fill that need.
If you have lost someone important to you in 2020, I send you all the love that I can muster. If you have lost yourself in 2020, I send you all of the hope to start again. Whatever you lost or gained in 2020, the scoreboard is about to reset to “0”, and we get to do this all over again.
In the end, we are all living a table-for-one life. We get to choose who occupies the seats around us and what we feast upon.
I wish you a feast of joy, gratefulness, discovery and love. (And a hefty amount of aglio.)
Baci e abbracci!
Luke
ciao Luke, and thinking of you as also eating solo (at a friends’ house in Brittany) and yes, even as the clock inches towards total Brexit, I am feeling fine. Also watching the Grande Soiree du 31 from Versailles, hmm, let them eat gateau indeed! Love to you, Sofia, and yours xx
Ciao cara! I’m thinking of you as well – and I’m so glad you are in Brittany..if you have some oysters for me, I would be most appreciative! I have no doubts that you will conquer 2021…as you continue to move through this world. Thank you for being part of 2020. You made it brighter! I would love a chocolat gateau right about now! Love to you as well..and Sofia cannot wait to see you in Paris!
Well, I just chowed a Paris Brest from the patisserie and a few chocolate cherry liquers – maybe a combo? Always thinking of how we can both progress – a bientot! xx
Happy new year to you! Your plan for the evening sounds perfect.
Thank you, Stephanie. Wishing you and John a wonderful 2021. It will only get better, right? My dinner was fantastic, my company (Sofia) doesn’t complain or drink too much, and the Bordeaux was dreamy! 36 minutes to go..then ciao 2020!
Oh Lou! This resonates with me so much (brought tears to my eyes)! I too binge watched Bridgerton! Haha! Ok but not just for that reason. LOL. I also wrote today and I feel like you and I are on the same page. I wish you much love, happiness and good health in your WONDERINGS/WANDERINGS and hope your “Window” always gives you clarity and peace. Love you!
Ciao Luke, New Year’s Eve wouldn’t be complete without your thoughts and words of encouragement….sending warm wishes for a healthy and happy 2021 🍾🥂
Ciao cara! Thank you – I’m glad my words had an effect. I’m sending you back huge hugs, warm wishes…and thoughts of a happy and healthy 2021! Stammi bene!
Happy New Year, Luke! Wishing you much happiness and many wonderful adventures in 2021!!
Martha, thank you!!! Happy New Year to you and Bob..and I wish you continued happiness and wonderful adventures as well! Who knows what 2021 will bring..but I think it will be definitely worth it! Be well..and I look forward to our paths connecting again in Florida soon!
You should write under the influence more often! From my table for one, chez moi, I wish you a very happy 2021, and just a few more good times that we can share together.
Why thank you my dear! Some have champagne – some have a great 7€ Bordeaux! You always continue to inspire me. I wasn’t even going to write..but your words tonight made me realize how grateful I am to be able to share these strangely wonderful and a bit anxious times together! XOXO
Thank you for the reminder Lou about being present. I had that exact conversation with a friend (that I have not been able to see since March) about the importance of being in the moment, wherever you may be. Wishing you continued happiness as we start another journey around the sun.
Thank you Rasheed! I’m sorry that you haven’t seen your friend in 9 months..but I know when you two reconnect it will be like time stood still for you! Be well – and stay in the best place we can be..now. I wish you also continued happiness..and I expect the next journey is going to be kinder, more open and hopefully…have us all much more connected! Be well..and happy New Year!
#HappyNewYear. Enjoy your table for one because in essence it is a table with many that you have touched with your kindness and friendship over the years.We will all be there with you in spirit, sharing the end to a year filled with uncertainty and loss of many things dear to us. Look ahead our friend to a better year filled with dreams to be finished and memories to be made. Love to you and Sophia. Better times will come🍷💓🤗💓🥂🙏🏻
Hi Lucca
I hope you enjoyed ur dinner it looked delicious! We were going to have claim linguine but instead are having lemon pasta one of our new favorite dishes! Cheers to putting 2020 behind us. It was filled with lots of loss and lessons (good and maybe not so good)for so many. Here’s to a happy, healthy and healing 2021! We miss u and hugs to U and Sophia. 🐾🤗
Felice anno nuovo! 🥂
My dinner was excellent – although Sofia had some complaints about the service at Chez Moi. She eventually awoke with the clams hit the pan. She’s so predictable!
Yes let’s put the worst of 2020 behind, and carry the best forward. People spoke, acceptance and love ultimately prevailed, life will shift, and the lessons were difficult, but always necessary. I would do anything to be sitting with you and Gina, having lemon pasta, and laughing as we always do! Soon..very soon my friend! Miss you both!
Thank you Luke! I wish you a Happy New Year too! Hoping the world will be rid of COVID! Love ya!
You are welcome my wonderful sister(ish) friend! I wouldn’t want to live in a world without you..COVID yes..you..absolutely not! XOXO Love you too.
Best wishes for the new year!
Best wishes to you and Ike, Linda. Sending big hugs from Europe and know that I adore you both and hope our paths cross again!
Thank-you Luke and Happy New Year to you! I will end 2020 also at my table for one – with prawns and prosecco and chocolate. I will also connect with family tonight via zoom to toast our connections and to say “bye-bye” to 2020 and “welcome” to 2021. All in all, I end 2020 in gratitude for health and life and mother nature and beautiful community of family and friends, including you. I wish you a beautiful new year, dear Luke.
Another beautiful post from you, Lou; so inspiring, as always. Alone, but not lonely this New Year’s Eve and praying for a brighter and better 2021. Bordeaux for you, amaretto and diet coke for me. Happy New Year, my friend.
Thank you V! What makes it beautiful are the stories of triumph and resilience that all of us (and yes..girl..YOU have had!) despite all of the difficulty. I hope you enjoyed that Amaretto and Coke…and yes, Amaretto is perfectly fitting Italian aperitivo..to send out the old and welcome the new! Be well and stay on your path, for it is a beautiful one my dear friend! I wish you continued progress towards your goals. You are an inspiration! XOXO
Well said Mr. Bordeaux! We too have started the binge watching of Bridgerton. We have a table for 2 & would have happily made room for you……if only. We did Thai takeout. We also wrote our thoughts on 2020 & will be burning our 2020’s in a bonfire! Thank you so much for lightening our days in 2020 with your incredible monthly insights. So looking forward to your version of 2021! Toni & Michael
Tony! Thank you! I seem to be Mr. Bordeaux, Mr. St. Émilion, and Mr. Loire Valley these days…oh the good thing about confinement in Italy and France is that there is no shortage of very affordable wines to enjoy with your table for one meals. :). I would have enjoyed dinner with you and Michael so much! I can just imagine all of the stories we could share. Please when you burn those thoughts in tribute…put a couple of notes in there for me. 1. Basta divisiveness 2. Basta illness 3. Basta confinement. Here’s to 2021! Be well and thank you for your kind compliments as always. We will see you on the other side of this in Italia!
Love u Lucca! And can’t wait to have lemon pasta and laugh and catch up! Cheers!🥂😌❤️🐾
Altritanto, Luca! Ever upward! 2021🥂
Esatto! Non c’è altra scelta! 🤗