I remember a New Year's Eve long ago. I was standing at the bottom of the stairs, getting ready to head up to go to bed. Dad shut off the dining room lights and then he shut off the living room lights as well. It felt strange to be downstairs when everything was dark like that.
We climbed the stairs together, up out of the darkness and into the softer glows of the nightlights in the hall and the bedroom. As Dad put me into bed, I remember he said, "Well, I'll see you next year."
How long ago was that? How many New Year's Eves have passed? I don't know. Maybe fifty or more?
Funny how I remember something like that.
Every year, on New Year's Eve, I say the same thing, usually to Sam. I don't know that he thinks it's especially clever, but I say it anyway.
And I remember...
I hope that the year past has treated you reasonably well, and I hope that the coming year treats you even better.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
At the Movies
Jake, Sam and I managed to see the new Star Wars movie together today. This was showing at the local theater, the same one where I brought the kids to their very first movie years ago. Jake has seen this movie, I think twice before today. For Sam and I, it was the first time.
Even though I read about the movie before going, including spoilers, I had a good time. It was made even better with the woman behind us repeating every third line that was in the movie and when she wasn't doing that, she was helpfully stating the obvious throughout, as though she were somehow directing the whole thing. No doubt doing she was doing this as a public service for those of us that go to the movies even though we are not only hard of hearing, but also blind.
As an added enhancement to the entire experience, one of her little spawns felt it necessary to be constantly kicking the back of my seat. I didn't mind it so much when there were explosions going off on the screen. But for pretty much the entire rest of the movie, it got to be a little, shall we say, annoying.
Still, I had a good time- a good movie and even better company. We'll have to do it again next year.
Even though I read about the movie before going, including spoilers, I had a good time. It was made even better with the woman behind us repeating every third line that was in the movie and when she wasn't doing that, she was helpfully stating the obvious throughout, as though she were somehow directing the whole thing. No doubt doing she was doing this as a public service for those of us that go to the movies even though we are not only hard of hearing, but also blind.
As an added enhancement to the entire experience, one of her little spawns felt it necessary to be constantly kicking the back of my seat. I didn't mind it so much when there were explosions going off on the screen. But for pretty much the entire rest of the movie, it got to be a little, shall we say, annoying.
Still, I had a good time- a good movie and even better company. We'll have to do it again next year.
Post Christmas Post
The Christmas repeat at Grandma's was everything I expected (almost) and more, way more- more people, more volume, more food, and more people. The only thing I got wrong from my previous post I think, is that Rachael went along for the Family Fun-time Activity. This year, it was rollerblading!
Sam stayed back at Grandma's with me and even though I didn't partake, it was still exhausting. It was a long, long day.
Sam stayed back at Grandma's with me and even though I didn't partake, it was still exhausting. It was a long, long day.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Over the River and Through the Woods...
We'll be off today for Christmas, Part II- the annual event that's held at Grandma's house. Over the years, this event has grown as the family has grown. Years ago, when the kids were small, the place was packed- but somehow manageable. Now, depending on who can make it, the place is either bursting with people, or nearly exploding with people.
It reminds me of when I was a kid and there would be the occasional visits to my grandparents in Worcester- the ones where the extended, extended, extended family would show up. I would spend at least half of the visit trying to figure out who all these people were, while simultaneously trying to avoid them. By the time I developed some small level of comfort with all of them being squeezed along with me into the small house, it would time to for us to go home.
I think this year is a Nearly Exploding year. To make matters worse, it's raining outside. Years ago, snow would often be on the ground, and the snow offered a respite from the indoor claustrophobia by allowing the kids and some of the adults to go sledding and maybe have a hike through the woods. Today will be too wet and rainy for any of that. And anyway, it's been too warm lately- meaning that the bears that occasionally lumber out of the woods in the summer to have their way with Grandma's bird feeders, are not yet asleep- and therefore, they would instead be having their way with us (and by "us", I mean "not me"- so maybe a walk is not totally out of the question).
In years past, with the now snow-less ground, the now grown kids would go out for a Family/Cousins/ Who Are These People activity. One year, this was bowling, another year it was indoor rock climbing. This year, I heard mention of some possible rollerblading- but I know Rachael, at least, will not be attending. She has already told me that if the others go out for an activity, she plans on taking a nap. While I would like to chalk this "nap" idea up to her carrying on our proud family tradition, it has more to do with her having to catch a bus home from New York at 6:00 in the morning, for the second time in four days.
But no matter what happens, I expect it will still be fun, at least for a little while. Fun, that is, for almost everyone except maybe Grandma. While we all get to leave at the end of the day and go home to our quiet abodes, Grandma will already be home- and be left to deal with whatever people inevitably leave behind- such as my ten pounds of smoked kielbasa which I have no intention of bringing home if people don't eat any of it.
So, as we speak, Rachael is on her bus, heading back home for the visit to Grandma's, and soon we'll be on our way too- over at least one river, but not through the woods - not today anyway - unless it gets real bad in Grandma's house. But if it does get bad, I wonder who I could encourage to go on a little walk, and I wonder if any of those bears would like some kielbasa?
It reminds me of when I was a kid and there would be the occasional visits to my grandparents in Worcester- the ones where the extended, extended, extended family would show up. I would spend at least half of the visit trying to figure out who all these people were, while simultaneously trying to avoid them. By the time I developed some small level of comfort with all of them being squeezed along with me into the small house, it would time to for us to go home.
I think this year is a Nearly Exploding year. To make matters worse, it's raining outside. Years ago, snow would often be on the ground, and the snow offered a respite from the indoor claustrophobia by allowing the kids and some of the adults to go sledding and maybe have a hike through the woods. Today will be too wet and rainy for any of that. And anyway, it's been too warm lately- meaning that the bears that occasionally lumber out of the woods in the summer to have their way with Grandma's bird feeders, are not yet asleep- and therefore, they would instead be having their way with us (and by "us", I mean "not me"- so maybe a walk is not totally out of the question).
In years past, with the now snow-less ground, the now grown kids would go out for a Family/Cousins/ Who Are These People activity. One year, this was bowling, another year it was indoor rock climbing. This year, I heard mention of some possible rollerblading- but I know Rachael, at least, will not be attending. She has already told me that if the others go out for an activity, she plans on taking a nap. While I would like to chalk this "nap" idea up to her carrying on our proud family tradition, it has more to do with her having to catch a bus home from New York at 6:00 in the morning, for the second time in four days.
But no matter what happens, I expect it will still be fun, at least for a little while. Fun, that is, for almost everyone except maybe Grandma. While we all get to leave at the end of the day and go home to our quiet abodes, Grandma will already be home- and be left to deal with whatever people inevitably leave behind- such as my ten pounds of smoked kielbasa which I have no intention of bringing home if people don't eat any of it.
So, as we speak, Rachael is on her bus, heading back home for the visit to Grandma's, and soon we'll be on our way too- over at least one river, but not through the woods - not today anyway - unless it gets real bad in Grandma's house. But if it does get bad, I wonder who I could encourage to go on a little walk, and I wonder if any of those bears would like some kielbasa?
Friday, December 25, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Saturday, December 19, 2015
From the Waiting Room
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)