(no subject)

Shubh Diwali, friends. The first Diwali I can remember is, I think, 1990? I remember going out into the garden with sparklers. I don't think I ever really appreciated until this year that there was always something - sparklers or puja at home, having friends over even if it wasn't a giant Diwali party (though my parents had plenty of those! my dad never liked going anywhere for Diwali, he insisted we celebrate in the house, so everyone came to us) and since 2009 I've held my own parties wherever I've been living.

There should be a paragraph here about how even in these times of great grief We Will Endure Despite Everything, but I have to say, I'm not feeling that. But by happy chance I wrote a Diwali story earlier this year: Heard, Half-Heard, in the Stillness, for Anathema - so that's something. I hope you are all well and happy and with your people, wherever you are, with no need to make your own light.