In which I tell a story, which leads to another story, which leads...

 I did the math the other day, and I believe that my tradition of giving away stories in December started around 1998 or 1999.

I tell this story every year as an introduction to the barrage of stories that I post here after Solstice and before the New Year.  But there are always new audiences, so I'm going to tell it again--feel free to skip this post if you already know what I'm talking about.

For the rest of y'all:

Many Decembers ago, I was getting divorced, I was broke and depressed, and also it was December--a truly dark place. 

On December 23rd, I telephoned my mom to cancel Christmas.  I hated everything anyhow, I would not be good company.  

"We're having soup," said my wise mother.  "Come and have soup."

I like soup.  Who doesn't like soup?  My mom's carrot-cauliflower soup might not be the key ingredient for world peace, but actually it might be.  I also like my family.

I agreed to come have soup.

I had no decorations, no pretty (or ugly) sweater, no food to share, and no gifts...except for a funky little cookie jar decorated with the Starship Enterprise intended for my brother.  

As I wrapped up the cookie jar, it occurred to me that, while Christmas and December and my soon-to-be-ex-spouse all sucked, my family was actually pretty awesome.  I wished I had gifts for them or money to get gifts.  But, no.

Inspiration was spawned by desperation:  I fired up the laptop and printed out some stories I'd been working on, tied the pages with hair ribbons (I had hair then), and went to have soup.

We ate soup.  We talked, we laughed.  I handed out stories to everyone except my brother:  he got the cookie jar.  He opened it, looked inside and said, "don't I get a story?"

All these years later, the answer is "Yes.  Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

I'm not broke or contemplating divorce this year, but it is getting dark.  And my answer to the request for stories is still yes.

I'll post stories here from tomorrow to New Year's.  Feel free to print them, forward them, and pass them along.

If you want even more stories, the posts from 2023 start HERE.

2009 stories begin HERE

2010 stories begin HERE 

2011 stories begin HERE  

2012 stories begin HERE 

2013 stories begin HERE

2014 stories begin HERE 

2015 stories begin HERE

2016 stories begin HERE

2017 stories begin HERE

2018 stories begin HERE

2019 stories begin HERE

2020 stories begin HERE

2021 stories begin HERE

2022 stories begin HERE

And, if you need soup, here's the recipe.  It might also work for world peace.  It's worth a chance.

Carrot-Cauliflower Soup

• chunks of carrots
• an onion
• some garlic (optional)

Sautee all these in butter until the onion is clear. Then, dump the mixture into a soup pot with 

• chunks of cauliflower 
• cubes of butternut squash (optional)

• some broth (chicken broth or vegetable)

Let the ingredients cook together over a low heat for at least an hour.  Then add in

• some cream or half-and-half or milk

This will cool the soup down a bit.  While it's cool, run the entire thing through the blender until it is a smooth, pretty orange color.

Heat the soup back up gently, and add any of the following just before serving:

• cilantro
• fresh grated ginger
• parsley
• dried dill

Serve warm, preferably with fresh bread and butter, and a glass of nice wine.