In January I suggested we “write a book together” in 2024 and pitched the idea of assigning each month a chapter title.
So far, I’ve had:
- January – Steady: Finding Solid Ground After a Year of Drowning
- February – Busy (with Intention): Making Time for Things that Provide Joy, Energy, and Thrill
- March – Up and Down: Trying to Enjoy the View from Life’s Rollercoaster
- April – Spring Cleaning: Unpacking My Bags and Tidying Up (Oh, and Look At Those Pretty Flowers!)
- May – Reflection: Another Trip Around the Sun – Let’s Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
- June – The Murky Middle: Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
- July – Unexpected: When Plans Go Awry, Life Still Provides Happy Moments
- August – Summer Adventures: Seeing the World and Coming Back Home
- September – Underwhelming: Fiascos with Enough Fun To Stay *Mostly* Positive
- October – Whirlwind: My Beautiful (Busy) Month of Visiting and Visitors
What happened in November? No, seriously. I’m drafting this post December 3rd and I’m scratching my head trying to remember anything from the last month.
November – Forgettable: That’s a Good Thing!
I wrote this working title and then proceeded to open up my planner and realized – *FACEPALM* – November included NaBloPoMo. How did I manage to forget about a month-long challenge three days after it finished. NaBloPoMo wasn’t forgettable.
The fact our national postal system is shut down for the foreseeable future is not forgettable.
The fact our national postal system is shut down and I’m not able to send/receive ANY CHRISTMAS CARDS is REALLY NOT forgettable. *Sob*
The fact Indy is 10 is not forgettable.
The fact we have a new pet (Ferrari) and said goodbye to an old pet (Meatball) isn’t forgettable.
The fact my parents have relocated nearby for the winter isn’t forgettable.
The fact our whole family participated in a Live Nativity production isn’t forgettable.
I guess my brain was searching for negative things and, thankfully, couldn’t find anything major to rest upon. I label that progress instead of dementia.
Here’s my new suggestion for the month:
November – (Not) Forgettable: Even When I’m Forgetful, Memorable Things Happen
Your turn. How would you label Chapter Eleven (November 2024)?
Header photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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mbmom11
For me, November would have the title: Chiaroscuro.
The same big and little hard things, some shadowed, some highlighted, but there was a lovely family wedding in the beginning of the month and some visitors at Thanksgiving.
Background music: Need a Favor by Jelly Roll.
Elisabeth
I had to google chiaroscuro. This may be the single most brilliant summation of a month yet. Light and dark, indeed. Isn’t that the juxtaposition of life that can be both so unsettling, but also beautiful. The light offsets the dark. The story is more accurate and engaging with those contrasting perspectives in a scene. But, also, there is something heavy about it too. It’s a reminder that life isn’t lived in a light, bright, easy vacuum devoid of struggles.
You’ve managed a lot this year and I know it has been heavy and hard. But I’m glad there were moments of delight and joy. Weddings! Holidays!
Wishing you a light-filled Christmas season.
Jenny
Oh boy. November really was a month of ups and downs. Looking back, it seems like a really long month- which I count as a good thing. People who run 100 mile races sometimes describe it as “Life in a Day,” as in, they feel like they’ve lived an entire lifetime with every emotion possible in that race. So maybe my title would be: November- Life in a Month.
Elisabeth
Love the title. And so fitting for an ultrarunner like you <3
Nicole MacPherson
Here’s where I am: when I go to write in my five year, one line a day journal, I am confused because I keep turning to November. Yesterday I literally stared at my journal where I had written that we were touring the Pantheon. Because I thought it was November 4. Anyway….
I know I’ve said this before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, the postal thing is really affecting my holiday spirit.
Elisabeth
The postal strike is getting me down to. I really underestimated how sad it would make me to not be able to send/receive Christmas cards and packages 🙁
Birchie
I feel like February and November are the write off months. They’re both short and the weather is bad. Plus on my side of the border November has two distinct parts – regular November and the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Here’s my year:
January: New Year, New Puppy
February: 25 Days of Puppy Snuggles, 4 Days on the Beach
March: Hikeapalooza
April: The Escape Hatch
May: Wisconsin Dreaming
June: On The Road
July: Same Old Same Old
August: Same Old Same Old, Continued
September: New York Roaming
October: Hikeapalooza II
November: We Chased Waterfalls
(November title decoded: the weather was gorgeous up until Thanksgiving, and the Hubs and I took advantage by taking the dog hiking to a couple of waterfalls.)
Here’s to chapter 12!!!!
Elisabeth
I’d read this book! And I feel like you’d have a lot of really cool photos to include as well. Trails with ladders! New puppy adventures! Meeting bloggers. What a year you’ve had…
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Oh wow; it’s that time of month again, eh? I had to actually check back to see if I had forgotten to do this for October! I guess to your point, November was not forgettable, but I am defintely forgetful and November had a lot of stuff going on!
As a reminder, here are my prior chapters:
Chapter One – January: Everything Must Go!
Chapter Two – February: The Life Changing Event
Chapter Three – March: A New Beginning
Chapter Four – April: An Unquenched Hunger
Chapter Five – May: The Next Province
Chapter Six — June: From Freezing Snow to Burning Sunshine in Three Days
Chapter Seven — July: The Path Less Taken
Chapter Eight — August: The Great Expanse
Chapter Nine — September: Taking A Step Back
Chapter Ten — October: Unwinding
And the latest is —> Chapter Eleven — November: Tides, Tasks and Trails in the Emerald City
Elisabeth
You have had quite a year! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you need to write this book! If for no other reason than Bob needs to be introduced to the world <3
NGS
Let’s see. I am thinking November was forgettable, too. Only, it wasn’t? I don’t know.
January: It Happened
February: CBBC, Tornadoes, and Snail Mailpalooza
March: SAD Lamp Needed
April: Denial…It Ain’t Just a River in Egypt
May: On the Road Again
June: Rainy Days and Rainy Nights
July: The Hospital and The Olympics
August: The End of Summer Suck
September: Routinely Fine
October: Terrible, Thanks for Asking – COVID, A Radioactive Cat, and No Halloween
November: Highs and Lows – Terrible Election Results and a Mouse in the House, but Great Books and Thanksgiving
Honestly, I’m really hoping for a very boring December. I’d take September’s routinely fine at this point!
Elisabeth
I am with you. I want boring. I want no one to be sick. I want no major crisis and I’m really hoping the postal system gets back up and running…
Michelle G.
My November was very busy and I had a great time! I’d give it the title: So Many Changes and Delights!
Elisabeth
Any chapter with “Delight” in it is just a joy to see. I know you’ve had some bigs ups and downs this year, so hooray for nearing the end of the year on a “high”.
Alexandra
For a short month, November felt like it was 60 days long. Maybe because I was furiously writing most days or evenings plundering my memories and past for anecdotes to share. It was also a month of loss for my OH, who lost an uncle and an aunty. Last weekend being the funeral of their uncle. But other than world events, it was a so so month in our household. December on the other hand is going to be busier.
Elisabeth
I’m so sorry for the losses sustained by your household. That’s a lot of sadness for a month.
And yes, lots of writing in November. NaBloPoMo is a big event!
Alexandra
It seems to have been a year for loss for my OH’s side of the family. They have a lot of elderly aunts and uncles. And winter is always a particularly cruel season.
Lisa’s Yarns
November was the longest shortest month. In hindsight it flew by but I traveled twice, had a sick kid, a holiday, and hosted family for a birthday party among other things. I just feel tired thinking about November!
Elisabeth
Wow – what a full month (and year) for you!
Gigi
For me November has to be “Oh Come On Already! Surely Something Good Will Come Out of This?!”
Elisabeth
Fingers crossed December is a glorious month with lots of good things <3
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I read that title and wondered how you could name it that. Wasn’t it NabloPoMo? Wasn’t Kyria in your neck of the woods? Wasn’t there a birthday. Ha… but you made a second one.
Elisabeth
Kyria was here in October…but November was BUSY. Maybe it was too busy to remember it? 🙂
Stephany
November was a BLUR for me, with NaBloPoMo and Thanksgiving and my birthday. So I guess I would name it, The Month Where I Wrote Every Day & Turned Another Year Older. A bit of a mouthful but it works!
Elisabeth
I swear NaBloPoMo makes the days just zoom together!
ccr in MA
I (maybe?) cheated and looked over the calendar before coming up with November: Some Disappointments, Some Progress. My mother had a health setback, and of course don’t get me started on the election, but my brother’s visit was nice, and it’s not November’s fault that it dumped me headfirst into December!
Elisabeth
I’m so sorry to hear about your mom; you have had a ROUGH fall. Hurricanes, cancelled trips, health…
Onward and upward in December, I say <3
Glad you were able to carve out some lovely moments with your brother, too.
Daria
January: Chapter One: Rest and Relaxation.
February, chapter 2: spring awakening+more energy
March, chapter 3: anticipation and je t”aime Paris
April, chapter 4: garden and community
May: overwhelmed + busy
June: convalescing and camping
July: rest for me, camp for kids
August: Bella Italia + Back to School
September: Over My Head
October: Still Over My Head but At Least There’s Halloween
—–> November: Traveling, Writing, and Celebrating
(Dutch County+L’s birthday+Thanksgiving+NaBloPoMO2024 🙂
Elisabeth
Yikes! A busy month for you, too! Actually…a busy year! You’ve done so many things and fit in so many cool trips.