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!
Have a great time in the ‘Burque! Luminarias are indeed everywhere, and we’re supposed to get snow on Saturday, so it may be a white Christmas. Woo!
I just cringed when you said “Most of you are really good spellers” because I kinda typo’d the crap out of my last comment. I think I may have even omitted a word. I’m not an idiot, but I play one on the Internets.
Have a wonderful trip!!
If you can hook it up, direct flights are the way to go. I’ve been known to pay a little extra just to avoid the drama of changing planes. I’m on my way to Atlanta this morning… much like you, my parents now live in a house (town, state) that I have never lived. It’s… bizarre. But you get used to it.
DON’T SNOW Minneapolis, or I’ll kick your ass!
The only reason we’re stopping in MN is that we’re using frequent flyer miles from an airline that doesn’t have a direct flight from O’Hare to ABQ. Believe me, if we had a choice, we’d fly direct.
I hope you made it to ABQ. I happen to work for an airline. (Not the one you’re flying though.) Anyway, traveling during the holidays is just marginally worse than any other time of year. For those of you traveling and trying to do “the thing”, bring snacks. Unless you are really savvy, airport food is one big refined carbohydrate, transfat blob.
Have a great holiday! Thank you for always providing great reading for us.
We are traveling with a six-year-old (an old pro at flying) and a three-year-old (first time flying) to Florida. It should be an interesting Christmas Eve.
Happy New Year, and safe travels!
Okay. I know you’re doing That Thing You’re Doing, but if you’re planning on doing ANY holiday thing-breaking, you must go to the Frontier restaurant and hoover up some flour tortillas. It doesn’t matter what else you order; you must make sure your plate contains at least one snowy round of carby goodness. We had neighbors in Phoenix who’d bring back as many as their car trunk could hold…
I love your entries and of course, the gingerbread station! A tour de force…
This isn’t really relevant, except that it connects with your comment about comments. Guided by you, I started reading your brother’s blog, but I have yet to see anyone comment. Does that affect him? He seems like a very interesting guy and I admire his living arrangement as an expression of his beliefs…. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Laurel and I looked at your Francisco CTA Gingerbread Line stop on her new little scary phone-computer-camera thing while downing bloody Mary’s Saturday morning. And LAFFED OUR A**ES OFF.
The peppermint turnstile was a stunning detail.
Have fun in NM. Happy holidays…owe you a card.
Hey, I just finished reading your book and thought I’d check out your site. How funny, I actually live in Albuquerque. Hope you have a great holiday here, it’s a good place to be.
Hope your holiday was a happy one! I think we managed to withhold the onslaught of winter weather here just long enough for you. I think most of us in the frozen north are actually getting impatient for snow to really fly.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Hope you had a marvelous Christmas.
And I wish you a joyous, prosperous & wonderous New Year.
I just moved my blog over to WP – when you get a minute I hope you’ll drop in – you’ve bene part of my blogroll for quite a while now – ever since the Weight Watchers cards!
Take care,
Frances
Hi Wendy,
I hope you had fun in Albuquerque. I giggled when you said that your parent’s house has a view of the mountains. Pretty much anywhere in Albuquerque has a view of the mountains, which I’m sure you realized once you arrived. Do they live in the Northeast section over by the mountains? I love that section of town. Did you take the tram to the top for a starlight dinner? Ooohh. I’m jealous. I miss Albuquerque.
Happy New Year.
Hope you and Chris made it to ABQ alright… funny you were cursing the MN snow gods when NM actually got hit pretty badly. Friday and Saturday brought a second round of heavy snow — we got 22″ which is waaaaaay out of the ordinary.
I’m in Santa Fe, btw, and the farolitos/luminarias are in quite a few places, not the least of which is Canyon Road on Xmas Eve. It’s loverly.