Last night I had dinner with three friends. One had a gift certificate she “had” to use up and she chose to use it with us. We all agreed to split whatever the balance was. The place was homey, the portions were good and generous and we talked non-stop for like 3 hours. The place wasn’t busy and so there was no pressure to relinquish our table, and we weren’t demanding, so the waitstaff didn’t mind either.

But what a great time – we told our stories and laughed and enjoyed each other and our friendships. We exchanged some gifts, but that wasn’t the highlight of the evening.

When we headed out into the sharply cold night, the sky was clear, the moon was high voltage and the stars twinkled merrily. The hugs were warm though and we went our ways home in peace and with a smile.

Pat, Sue, and Naomi – thanks for being part of my life.

Went to the family christmas party Sunday night. My brother and his family hosted it and everyone brought food to share. Lots of people came and ate and talked and had a good time.

It was great to see all my cousins talking amongst themselves and how well their kids all get along. I even got to see the inside of my nephew’s bedroom and the cool electric guitar and amp he got at a garage sale. Later I heard that my cousin Joe had “consulted” with him about this, giving him some advice about needing new strings etc. Since Joe plays himself that was a very nice thing. Always good to see my aunts and uncles. In short a good time was had by all.

I brought caesar salad at the request of my brother and hoooo baby, it was a good thing we’re all family and like each other because baby – that garlic was serious business! Mike snagged the left overs so I guess it passed muster.

I know our family really needed an occasion like this. It’s not all good times, but getting together like this reminds us of our past and what we share and why. Thanks everyone who made it all possible!

In honor of Jeremy’s first encounter with individual snowflakes.

The Onset

Always the same, when on a fated night
At last the gathered snow lets down as white
As may be in dark woods, and with a song
It shall not make again all winter long
Of hissing on the yet uncovered ground,
I almost stumble looking up and round,
As one who overtaken by the end
Gives up his errand, and lets death descend
Upon him where he is, with nothing done
To evil, no important triumph won,
More than if life had never been begun.

Yet all the precedent is on my side:
I know that winter death has never tried
The earth but it has failed: the snow may heap
In long storms an undrifted four feet deep
As measured again maple, birch, and oak,
It cannot check the peeper’s silver croak;
And I shall see the snow all go down hill
In water of a slender April rill
That flashes tail through last year’s withered brake
And dead weeds, like a disappearing snake.
Nothing will be left white but here a birch,
And there a clump of houses with a church.

Robert Frost