home for the holidays

I have been busy, like everyone else on the planet in the throes of holiday celebrations. At the moment, I am up late in my hometown of Rochester NY, having a swell time with my parents' laundry-doing equipment, and getting ready to fly down to Richmond, Virginia to be with my honey.

Christmas with the family was swell. We even got a smattering of snow which we managed to scrape off the green grass and hurl at one anothe rin icy snowballs. Mostly, I packed snowballs and handed them to 5-year-old boys who hurled them at taller relatives. It was good fun. The best part was making snow monsters and throwing ice balls at them. When the snow ran out, we kicked them over. Job complete.

Rochester is like every other medium-sized city. The mall is big, the downtown is dead, the weather is cold in the winter, and the ladies dream of thin arms, a size 6 waistline, and diamonds. I know this because there are special circulars here from major retailers, even Sears, that show gemstones and gold chains in glorious full-color detail, with the prices (always something-.99) in a big red font that seems to leap off the page. I found myself, entirely against my will, looking. At sapphires.

My family is doing great. We've got a new addition, my 3-month-old neice, who is cute as a button, especially when she smiles. Her looks of consternation are also good, as they exactly mimic the expression of consternation on a wise but harrassed old man. Go girl. She's also a champion burper.

I got everything I wanted for Christmas, because, well, I didn't really want much. A friend's father distinguishes himself when he opens his gifts by declaring after each, "I don't want this." My thought is just that the things I wish for don't come in boxes.

Off to further exert my will over my parents' large appliances. Then, to bed. Happy holidays, everyone!

p.s. Zen Center update: I went back to Zen Center a few weeks ago, to turn in my key and pick up my oryoki bowls, which I had left in the room I shared with Hiroko. Several mysteries were solved. First, she informed me that she was suffering from bed bug bites, a minor epidemic that had gained a foothold when I departed ZC. Hapily none of the slow-moving parasites got into my gear, for I am free of them. Second, the room was trashed. I mean, beyond dorm-room, beyond frat house. There were dirty dishes on every surface. There was bedding on my (old) bed, on her bed, and various places in between. There were piles of stuff. It was hard to walk across the room. I got my eating bowls and beat it out of there. Now I know: Hiroko was not apologizing all those days for the mess she was making; she was apologizing for the mess she knew she was capable of making, that would would make imminently, as soon as my disturbingly tidy presence was withdrawn. Poor girl. Don't let the bedbugs bite.