01.08.2025 | Second Wednesday of Christmas

It is still quite dark here in the Carondelet Garden on this second Wednesday of Christmastide. The day is cold and cloudy, and it seems the weather intends to maintain its solemnity. By this afternoon, the highs should reach into the mid-20s.

I must admit, I find joy in the quiet that blankets the city after a snowfall. The reduction in traffic noise creates an ethereal silence, an unexpected quiet that seems to magically descend upon the urban landscape. The snow absorbs so much sound that you can truly hear the stillness. We've been delighting in the sights and sounds of birds feeding in the back garden—a rare treat, as we usually cannot hear them. This added grace enhances our appreciation of the fleeting silence.
​
In the early morning darkness, as I sit with my coffee and my thoughts, I revel in this moment of tranquility. Soon, the newspapers will arrive, I will begin to stir, and the bustle of the day will break the spell. But, for now, the silence is a welcome guest. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.