Allidays are hard to come by and few and far between. I have never heard of any other family adding this tradition to their regular seasonal calendar, but every October, just as the leaves are about to change and the air is frosty we gather for a weekend. This is one weekend full of mass holiday chaos. We manage to cram into this one little weekend Christmas, Halloween, New Years, Cinco De Mayo, Birthdays, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. While we embrace every holiday, these are usually the ones that make it to the table. This very special entry is being written from the balcony of our rental home this year.
This year we decided to drive out to the little charming town of Occidental. Who knew that this town, called delightful, quaint and organic by reviewers actually consists of one volunteer fire station, one deli/market, one hotel, one tavern and three restaurants, one of which doubles as the local watering hole Friday and Saturday nights. Though small and deceivingly deserted, Occidental flies into full swing on Friday evenings for the organic farmers market. Consisting of 20 booths, ranging from organic honey to homemade apple juice, this farmers market surely paved the way for other, more large scale copy cats around the state. The locals here are rustic and truly country, with a small town, farming way of life story written clearly in the wrinkles of their tanned skin. Most of the family run booths have generations of women and men smiling, conversing, eating and moving to the music- truly enjoying the fruits of their own labor, and those who have labored around them. As the air grows thicker with the smells of fresh herbs, paella and barbecue, the crowds also grow. With flowers for sale, a quarter a stem, fresh baked goods as far as the eye can see, and organic body products for every need, this small plethora of activity is truly a gem.
While the Alliday is in a way a constant reminder of the uneven dust divorce has ground our family into, it is in another way- soothing. It is nice that for one weekend out of the year we are all free to be who we are for the holidays, no questions asked. I feel that through this one special weekend we can lay our holiday pains to rest in order to create smoother sailing for the actual holidays ahead; to find peace within. Most families experience the normal holiday hustle and bustle of not enough space, money and time for family, gifts and get togethers. While most embrace/ almost enjoy the shear chaos- we, because of the Alliday, never have to. This is our own little bubble- inside this weekend we are allowed to feel the pain of loss and the joy of love. We are safe here to lay down our thoughts and prayers, spiritual or religious, and to feel connected to something bigger, something calmer. The holidays come rushing in for most, in many different forms. For some of us it is the crackle of the fire, hot chocolate under the tree and curling up with a good book. For others it is a hike across the land followed only by the rising sun in a sky dripping with silent fog. How ever we choose to spend the Holidays- this Alliday- makes it alright.
The Alliday's roster has been slightly altered this year- for the better. We have experienced the joy and laughter of a silly new member, Mister Lou Abalos. His little crooked smile and love for doggie treats filled with peanut butter have filled the Alliday with even more love. If you haven't guessed yet, Lou is a puppy!
The events for this weekend have included small hikes down to the local coffee shop, hours of reading Steinbeck, Kenny G Christmas carols, decorating, napping, relaxing and massive amounts of cooking. On the menu this weekend is tacos, meat loaf, assorted homemade desserts, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, deli sandwiches and much much much more!
Here are some treasures from the weekend so far for everyone to enjoy <3
