tavie.com

When me and Kirsten were little, we used to dress up in matching velvet dresses and go every year with our mom and Tante Joan to see "The Nutcracker" at the New York City Ballet.
We haven't gone in years and years but it was one of my favourite traditions. We even went on Christmas Eve a few times, I think, although now I don't see how as those must have been the hardest tickets to get.
Even now, although I have not gone in many years, I can't think about Christmas in New York City without picturing, somewhere in the recesses of my grey gloop, the great angel on the curtain before the performance and the giant tree and the snowflakes on the stage and the giant gingerbread lady and the dancing candy cane people.
And always when we came back from the ballet, our dad would have the Nutcracker out and waiting and say, "Look what Drusselmeyer left", and there was our battered old Nutcracker. Now he's missing a foot and his cap is broken and I've glued cotton where his hair's fallen out, but he's still here, the remaining vestige of that tradition.
Maybe some year I'll get us tickets again. But I'd better stop spending money now, because at the prices, fourth ring seats just aren't worth it.
I don't think...

Why are you in Tavie's head? 8:43 PM | shower me with attention