Reflections on the Recent Past

As Justin leaves and the door is closing behind him, we turn to the task at hand, taking the Christmas decorations down. This is also the time for reflection on the year just past, although, I can hardly remember anything from the first 6 months of 2006. I feel like the year began as I retired June 30th. From that time on there is a rush of memories: our trip to Traverse City and the Cherry Festival; Lelanau Peninsula and running into Chuck Smith (former Choral Union director) on a day too windy and the water too rough to take the ferry ride to the outer islands; the children's pilgramage to the cottage meeting Chris and chasing bats; caring for Marcus and being with Rythym & Nana while Bec began work; 4 days with Andre & Sarah in Washington DC, a baseball game, a NPR awards concert, a ranger guided tour of the WW II memorial; 4 days in Calabash NC with Dave and Philis, seafood on the Inland Waterway, miles of walkable sand beach; Cleveland Ohio for a reunion and a full day's activity with Bob & Kathy; Cave City and Mammoth Cave KY; miles of driving the MidWest, the High Plains, Denver, Boulder, Estes Park; out to KS for Thanksgiving, a brief visit with Heather and family, and finally home, home to get ready for the Holidays.

KK had a plan in mind for what our home should look like. Out came the crates with Christmas decorations and Charoling figures; onto the sideboard counters, into the see into cabinets, Village 56 lighted houses were arranged and rearranged until the darkened rooms were lit by the glows of the houses, the white lighted Christmas tree, bows decorated fireplace mantle. Prepartions were finished for the families to visit. Justin and his friend Sherry were the first to arrive, followed by Andre and Sarah; next Bec and her family. Over the two weeks there was laughter and joy. We shared love and peace.

Tomorrow begins the New Year, a day of football watching, some lounging around, a meal shared by most people in USA: pizza. On Friday, KK will have outpatient cataract surgery, myown to follow several weeks away. We have tickets for men's basketball so we will obviously stay in town for March Madness. Where we are off to after March, is anybody's guess, although an Inland Passageway to Alaska may be a good start to the traveling season. Plans for Big Red and Rudy will likely take us South and East; how far and for how long is unknown. Summer at the cottage is a for sure. There is one family member whom we will not have seen for nearly a year, so either we will have to go to Australia, or Australia will have to come to us. We shall see what the tides bring with them: flotsam or magic in a bottle. The new year is before us, I look forward to what we shall find.

As the Holidays come to a close

On the Eve of the New Year, we have time to reflect upon our recent past. Once KK and I had settled from our Thanksgiving in KS, KK began to decorate our home. Trees and bows, lights and figures emerged from their crates and boxes, populating the side tables, fireplace mantle, the see through cuboards upstairs and down, window sills and floor stands were festooned with reminders of Christmas. Colorful flowers were placed in vases and surrounded us. The fresh cut Christmas tree was erected and watered, white lights strung, and ornaments hung, the glass ones up high and the wooden ones down low in anticipation of Marcus's arrival. Presents arrive by post as well as carried by loved ones. Christmas cards tell us of friends and family, the doings, comings and goings.

Justin and friend Sherry were the first to arrive, baring gifts and energy; then Andre and Sarah followed by Bec's family. Joyfullness were our feelings to have the opportunity to connect with our families. It is entirely fitting that at the close of this year 2006, we should come together, as a present is wrapped and given for this memorable time. As the family now scatters to the four corners of the world, we all have a moment in time that we have been united in love and peace.

Today is rainy and cold, the wind blowing from the Northeast, driving the raindrops against the windows making sounds of thier impact. I sit here in mostly silence, listening to the rain, seeing out the windows to the slate gray lake, feeling the warmth of the heated floor against my stocking feet. KK and I are making plans to take down the Christmas decorations, remove the Christmas tree and begin our Winter plans.

Christmas without snow

The sun is shining and the outdoor temperature is a warm 51 degrees F; unseasonable weather and temperatures for this time of year. For Christmas and for Santa to come on his sleigh, we expect snow with winds to cause drifts that block roadways and other transportation. The lack of snow during the Christmas holidays was a source of disappointment for us as Marcus did not have a chance to play in it, although he did bring his snow suit outfit. In the larger picture, the warm weather means that there is less (23% less) natural gas and heating oil burned impacting the supply/demand of these items. Also, the presumptive cause of global warming, ie, hydrocarbon emmisions causing a Green House effect, is lessened by burning less hydrocarbons. On the other hand, if, global warming is due to the "heat sink" effect, something that I made up, then the continued growth of the human population with more roads, houses, parking lots, cities, and other things that absorb heat from the sun and releases that heat much more slowly than a forest or grassey plains. One would expect that the heat sink effect would result in an overall elevation in ambient temperature, then these nice sunny days will mean a parallel increase in global warming with the expansion of the population. In any case, Marcus, mom and dad got off for their flight home this early morning enshrouded in fog, most suitable for Rudolph's Red Nose guidance. They left our holiday house echoing his laughter, the smells of baking bread and cooking turkey. He learned how to play with Christmas wrapping paper tubes, a wooden bus from the Store of 10,000 Villages peopled with RJ, Marcus, Nana, Rhythm, Grandpa and Grandma K. There were preschool and daycare chums aboard as well. He hammered on Bob the Builder's work bench, laughed and radiated excitement and joy, infectious attributes that makes the season bright. Now's the time for reflection and getting our affairs in order, in preparation for the New Year and the mysteries it will bring. The Christmas presents given and received remind us of our connection with one another as we touch, wear, and use each one. In my own case, "these are the slipper sox from Bec", etc. And so, even though we are far apart by distance, we remain close to one another as each item embodies the memory of the person who gave the gift. And if the item is lost or worn through over time, we can say to the giving person an accounting of what happened to the item, as the memory it embodied remains with ourselves. Indeed, the Holiday Spirit.

adventures in blogging:

As retirement has begun, so our traveling has also begun. To and from our home, Christmas Holidays are the best place to start.