Tomorrow afternoon Chris and I are flying out to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where my parents live now. I haven’t seen the house yet, but reportedly it has a view of the mountains. I haven’t seen my parents since the summer. I haven’t had to travel far for Christmas in my adult life. I haven’t spent Christmas outside the Chicago area for at least thirty years.
I have a couple very faint memories of spending Christmas in Albuquerque when I was little—just a few mental images that probably come from the Super-8 home movies that my dad took, as well as from photos on the souvenir placemats we used at the dinner table back home. I remember luminarias everywhere, lined up along sidewalks and adobe walls and stairways. (I know they do that in Old Town; do they do that anywhere else?) I can’t wait to see what it’s like now. I can’t wait for everything except the actual flying part, which involves changing planes in Minneapolis. Please don’t snow, Minnesota. Don’t snow don’t snow don’t snow.
I’ll put up pictures when I can. I’ll definitely write here again before New Year’s. Obviously any comments you post after tomorrow afternoon will take a while to be approved, what with the traveling and all. And while we’re on the subject, I should really tell you how grateful I am that you are all so hilarious and supportive and wonderful as readers, and also, that nobody who comments on Poundy.com is ever too crazy or bitchy or mean or nosy or slobbery, and I never have to play goofy Soviet I’m- not- going- to- approve- your- comment games or anything like that. Most of you are really good spellers, too. And proper-noun capitalizers. Thank you for that. Happy happy everything to all of you. I’m glad you’re reading.
Feliz Navidad, dudes!