I missed my end of December deadline. Too much going on. I should say Simon going on. But not too much Simon. I forgot what children can do to a to-do list. And before you know it, it's a brand new year.
So let's start with a hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, yet again limited by the waves of the virus. And, here's to a safe and happy and different new year.
Do you have a resolution? I'm trying to come up with one, or at least another one, since I've already broken the one I did make. But, at least, I'm off the hook and don't have to worry for a whole 'nother year about keeping a resolution. I can worry about other things.
We did have joy on our Christmas, before and after that too. Annie and Sankar arrived just a few hours after the DC crowd drove into the driveway. And Margaret and Andrew just a few hours after we vacuumed the last of the dust and moved the furniture back in place from weeks of work to put in a new bathroom. But, just in time to toast their parents on their anniversary with weather almost equal to the freezing cold on the day we were married.
John and Marilyn and almost their entire family checked in, masked up and all, direct from witnessing Julie (Colleen's daughter) and Jamie's wedding. We spent a short while catching up and sharing Mary's Rio robbery story, before they returned to their maskless bubbles, um, homes.
Jeffrey and Melodie arranged a Fairport Christmas Eve Facetime chat, so we were able to see and hear David and Paula, Matthew and Everett. Tina and Donald were off camera, but even Hopper had a cameo experience, which was a bonus for Simon since every dog we've seen here is named Hopper.
We had a bunch of calls to Portugal, where Leonor's large family took shifts with Thomas and Joao; plenty of uncles, cousins and friends who doubled as playmates. Joe was fresh off a few hectic days coordinating the decisions to sanction several Brazilian entities for drug trafficking and terrorism (separately.) A good time to head out of town.
We were even able to use the technology to arrange a call with Mary, Kathleen and Patrick (each in their own home) and Joe in Portugal. It was nice reminiscing on the Christmases we spent together in South Africa and Mexico.
Out in Illinois, we understand that Elliot was a dancer in the Nutcracker, and they enjoyed their first snow of the year, a record for seasonal lateness. The photo here, off of Facebook, shows the conductor Claire. Very cool.
We too had a little snow here on Christmas Eve, which made for a nice backdrop, even if it was gone in a few days. At least the shoveling was minimal.
What's the news from the NJ crowd? I suspect that Erin is getting balloon-like, and the excitement is growing for that main event.
We had some Christmas firsts. Salmon instead of roast beef, a more relaxed lead-up due to the secret Santa gift exchange, watching It's a Wonderful Life, and fewer decorations because we were more focused on cleaning up from the construction mess. I would add that this may be the only household in America where the best gift was a tie between a parking garage and a box of animal crackers.
Other than that, we've enjoyed hiking in the woods, shadowing Simon as he cruised around to all the "stations" of toys, finishing a jigsaw puzzle, planning and preparing numerous meals, each with a vegan option (if not totally vegan), making countless runs to the grocery stores, playing Risk, Sequence and Scattergories, watching movies (last night for new Years. When Harry Met Sally), crossword puzzle races, amid much chatting of things large and important, as well as the nothing things.
So, here's to 2022, and a fervent hope that we all get together in person at the Poconos in July. (I'll be sending out an email in a few days.)
Love from up here.
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