First off, I just went through and counted and it looks like 432 kids were gifted with new stuffed animals this week during the 15th Annual James Garfield Miracle. Holy crap. I love you guys.
Secondly, I wrote this for my substack today but I’m sharing it here too in case you don’t substack but need to read it:
I was supposed to write this yesterday but I couldn’t because I’ve been fighting a massive depression and so yesterday I had an emergency ketamine treatment to try to pull me out of it. And today I woke up with less of a gravity-has-tripled-but-only-for-me-apparently depression and more of a day-2-of-the-flu-and-I-think-I’m-getting-better-but-not-entirely-human depression. Yay!
Today’s doodle is all about Iceland because did you know that in Iceland they have a tradition called Jólabókaflóðið, which means “Christmas Book Flood”? Basically on Christmas Eve it’s tradition to exchange books and spend Christmas Eve reading. YES, PLEASE, NOW. Another Icelandic tradition you need to know about? The Yule Cat, a huge, grumpy cat who lurks in the snowy countryside and eats people who don’t wear new clothes on Xmas Eve.
This seems ridiculous because why would cats care about clothes, but then I remembered that there is nothing my cats love more than laying across me when I’m wearing something that doesn’t already have cat fur and claw snags so maybe there’s some truth to that. Regardless, I don’t have any new clothes, nor did I buy any for Hailey and Victor, so tonight I will make us all wear towels as Christmas capes to keep us safe:
I didn’t have the energy to put up a tree or wrap presents or make food, but tonight we’ll be together, in Christmas capes, as I read on the couch and it might not look like Christmas to anyone else but that doesn’t make it any less special.
So here’s to you, no matter what your holiday looks like. The world is better with you in it.
I super crazy love you,
Jenny
PS. Yesterday on threads I asked for pet pictures and literally thousands of people obliged and so if you’re feeling low I highly suggest going through this thread and sending psychic scritches to all these lovely faces because it will make you smile in spite of yourself.
Oh goodness. We are eating Christmas dinner at Waffle House. Three weeks ago my husband developed an infection in his knee and is on IV antibiotics to the tune of $480 per week. We’re spending too much time in doctors’ offices and I haven’t had the time nor the energy to shop. Tomorrow we have six grandchildren coming and I haven’t bought any gifts. They have too much stuff anyway and three other sets of grandparents who will overspend, so I’m trying not to feel guilty. They don’t need anything else. I bought two books for one of my sons and a suitcase for another, some slippers for my husband, but that’s it. I warned my son that I didn’t buy any gifts but I’m exhausted. Being a caregiver is hard.
I have a vintage postcard of the Yule Cat crunching on Krampus and I think it’s a fantastic Christmas statement. I’ll find it to and send you a picture.
Merry Christmas, Jenny. May you and yours enjoy your books, towels, and all of your furry friends.
We love you too and wish a metaphoric crane to gently lift out of those sneaky doldrums. Btw. Just read “Toto”, so much fun!
Are these new towels like the requested ones from the Beyoncé saga? I feel like annual new towels are required if they are serving a magical purpose to save your life from the Yule cat. (And the Yule cat could potentially appear any time you feel the need for new towels!)
You have everything anyone needs…family and pets. (and tamales)
In my opinion…you will have the perfect day.
Love and superflyingtacklehugs
Lisa
Jenny, sending you warm Holiday Cheer – liquid or otherwise – along with hugs to fight off the big D. You are not alone – oh, if only that energy could be harnessed. Please know you give gifts to so many.
I love this idea. We are all superheroes for dealing with depression and anxiety. I didn’t put up a tree either because I don’t have family close by and my car is having transmission issues. So I am currently catching up on my TBR list of books and doing laundry. I hope you feel better and happy Holidays to you and your family.
Oh no, the world is a better place because YOU are in it. will get my towel ready and snuggle!
Merry days ahead. Love from here.
We’ll be doing enchiladas for Xmas Eve and seafood stuffed salmon for Xmas dinner. Might do some sort of cozy breakfast thing for Xmas morning. Traditions are whatever you make of them.
My kids wouldn’t decorate the tree, or make cookies, or watch cheesy movies with me, I woke up with a painful rash on my face, and I am definitely not doing well mentally this year.
I do have a large orange cat purring on my lap, tho, so that’s something.
I love your drawing! The kitty is so cute!! I’m sorry you’re dealing with depression (I mean, I’ve had it since I was two, so I get it, and even with all the treatments, we still fight it).
Loads of Love to you and the family! Thank you for seeing us through the year with stories, pictures and caring. Even with all you go thru you are able to make this weary world a bit better. Merry Christmas , Happy Hanukkah and a Cool Yule. (We are a blended all holiday family)
Prrrrrrrrr.
Love this drawing. Protector cat time we reclaim being cat persons. When you have the big D. Is there anything one can say to make you feel better?
(The most helpful thing is just listening. 🙂 ~ Jenny)
My mom bought me all 3 of your books for Christmas and because of travel we opened all the presents a few days ago, so now I have your books to read this Christmas Eve <3
Love you so much! Sending you thoughts of light and love today and always. May the cloud of depression lift enough to let the sunshine through.
Fixed it for you:
Marked Safe.
From: Your Patronus cat.
Were going to need it. Godzilla is coming next year.
I like that someone above described depression as « the big D ». Because then I think that the only way out of the big D is to travel through a tiny hole at top speed…and that’s a reasonable description of traveling through a wormhole. So yeah, I think towels are called for this Christmas. Giant cats and and big wormholes 🤣
Happy Christmas, in whatever form it is to you!
We are not Icelandic but as soon as my son and I found this out we started the tradition of exchanging books, new jammies and chocolate on Christmas Eve ❤️ We’ve been doing it for a while now. Merry Christmas Jenny – May your day be gentle
This crazy loon super crazy loves you too for making me not feel weird about the stuff I love and do too. ♥
It’s okay to not be okay.
But to cheer us up, exchanging books and wearing towels to ward off clinging cats is fun.
And oh yes, the shortest day of the year is over, and for those of us with seasonal depression from lack of sunlight, take heart, the days of sunlight are getting longer every day again!
I super love all of you who are struggling out there. We are all in it together.
Thanks. I’m having problems with words lately but yours hit me in the feels just right!
Super love right back.
Oh, no. Buying towels leads to giant metal chickens! All hail Beyoncé!
Super crazy love you back Ms. Lawson (and company, of course 🥰.) Wishing you the best and all my good juju your way ❤️
I appreciate your post so much. Am in bed hiding from the day, the world, etc. I’d give anything for a cat or dog to love, one who didn’t just question why these days aren’t holiday awesome as so many others seem to expect.
My oldest daughter died in a car accident at the beginning of October so the holidays have been really tough, but I’m trying to get through it for my other two kids. Tonight, my youngest (16) and I continue our Christmas Eve tradition of reading excerpts from your books until we laugh so hard we cry. Thank you for a bit of humor during this awful time.
It’s a nice Christmas Eve here. Our son (adult) is here and staying the night so we’ve played board games and eaten all day and will do the same tomorrow. We are all reading something right now and I’m about to put the laptop down and read, too. Whatever makes you feel safe and happy is what I’m wishing for you and all who are here.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
But are they new towels? Beyoncé wants to know.
This past few days have been tough with Christmas all around and feeling like a weight (hello depression) is pulling you back. The hype/commercial part of Christmas gets on my last nerve! We’ll get through together.
Hope you feel better, Jenny!
You should read Six to Eight Black Men by David Sedaris …a Christmas story to make you laugh..speaking of other cultures and their Christmas traditions….and everyone needs to laugh when ever possible
I might live with the Yule Cat. Not sure. But I super crazy love you! Merry Christmas!
I was unable to do any decorating but I laid in some splurge groceries and tracked down fried catfish in honor of my favorite Christmas story*. When I woke at 1am I went to turn off lights my 18yo had forgotten…. and it was decorations he’d put up for us.
Santa came.
*Christmas Wingding, by Janet Kagan, which we call a Butterfly Christmas
Merry Christmas Jenny🎄❄️💕🎅🏽👼🏼I’m so glad to have found you and your life. You make us all feel just right.
Jenny
Sorry to hear about the treatment, but don’t be so hard on yourself. You and your family gifted hundreds of gifts to others. Anyone would be exhausted. You built an amazing community of good people. Gifts matter. I’ve had times when I had to work on Christmas so I simply decided to celebrate it on a different day. If there’s a yule cat, I can change the date. Cuz’ I say so.
Last year I didn’t have the energy to do Xmas (I was dealing with a broken leg). This year, it was depression but around 1 AM I managed enough energy to wrap the gift I bought on black friday for my adult kids and the Bluey/Bingo stuffies I got through James Garfield for the grandbaby and his coming-soon sibling. Not sure he loved Bluey more than the wrapping paper though.
Australians call depression the black dog; keeps chasing you. Hope you feel better soon.
A little tip that works for us. I pre buy a bunch of gift bags and tissue paper keep them in the gift closet. If I quickly need it (and life happens to us all), there’s no wrapping, still looks like a gift. For bigger boxes, we just stick one of those rosettes on it.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
The last part made me cry and also helped me when you said you didn’t have the energy to put up the tree or wrap gifts or make food. It helped to know I’m not the only one struggling with this and my Christmas doesn’t look like the happy one it “should”. 🙁 Thank you.
Thank you Jenny! I’m struggling today as I’m practically bedbound with ME so Christmas is really tough – your words helped a lot! Enjoy your towel capes 🦸♀️! x
Iceland seems to have a weird relationship with cats. I recently saw that whereas our kids get threatened with coal in their stocking if they don’t behave, Icelandic kids are threatened with getting eaten by cats. Very odd . . .
You are amazing! I am laughing and crying about you all wearing towels. and being safe from Yule Cat. Thank you for sharing your good times and bad. You give me hope.
I love you so much Jenny. You have created such a wonderful supportive community. ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for the opportunity to give. It gave me a lot of joy to think of all those kiddos receiving something special from this community. Holidays are hard. We have to find joy where we can. You did a great thing Jenny.
Hi Jenny, Any chance we can get your new drawings in a sequel to You Are Here? I sure could use another of your coloring books to help get through the next four years. 😉
Just reading this after Christmas, and now the Substack doodle that I saw on your Instagram in Christmas Eve makes so much more sense! Your art and wit and your ability to share and reach so many is a gift to the world, Jenny. ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜
Sending all my best to you and to all your followers who are struggling these days… You guys are a real lifeline… I am halfway through six intravenous ketamine treatments… Jenny, you gave me the courage to try it! I recommend your books, your blog, your sub stack to everyone I know who is struggling… Thank you for being around…
Wonderful ♥️
It makes me so sad that you suffer from depression, you have so many people here that absolutely love you. It verifies my own feelings, that love and success don’t make you immune to the mental mess of depression