The Catalan relatives went to parties elsewhere, places we had been royally invited and would love to have attended. But after joining the parade of the man who hase a nose for every day in the year we were topped up with reveling, and went to our default: weary Canadian travellors. We came home to an evening of quiet Star Wars. Bonnie told David this was one of the most exciting films she had ever seen when she was young. So it wasn´t going to be that quiet for her – returning to that happy past. Even though David has seen the film before, it still produces a high level of terror in him. So for at least two of us, the evening was still filled with excitement. David was hiding behind pillows, leaning not only into his mother´s body, but trying to lean through it, and even he was even holding his grandmother´s hand, which act usually produces terror in and of itself.
I spent the evening reading a first draft of a paper for Rebecca and could feel that small crack in a door opening, the one through which a reader is dying to walk, through and can´t read fast enough because at the same time she also don´t want to miss a minute of that process of getting through that door.
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| Grapes for 2012 |
I heard fireworks at .05 am on January 1st. Joaquim came into the library here, smiling and wishing me a Happy New Year. The four of us had already come to terms with the fact that the grocery store was out of grapes. In fact, two grocery stores were out of grapes. Grapeless in this house, we missed the custom of grape eating at the stroke of the New Year. I thought, I am sure I can double up on grapes next year.
I woke up to see the sunrise again. Happy New Year to all of you. I took my camera outside to catch the colours in the sky above the Mediterranean. I am going to make a date with the morning sun this week, a date down at the beach.
I am taking the easy way out with resolutions and signing on to Tonia´s
New Year´s Resolution, number 2.
So, again, Happy New Year.
Larchhaven.blogspot.com had 70 posts in 2009, 262 in 2010 which more than tripled 2009. A round of applause for all of that writing, as well as for all of the thoughts that didn´t get posted but might have. I noticed on
Doral´s blog, there was a prize when a certain number of subscribers was reached at the blogspot.
Here, the prize is the joy of thinking about each others´ lives.
Arta
PS This year I am going to stop procrastinating, so Happy 2010 to all.
Love your joke at end of your post. It took me a long time to ¨get¨ it. My brain is ready for more rest, to be ready for the trip to Barcelona tomorrow to see Cala Milla (La Pedrera), the apartment building designed by Gaudi.
ReplyDeleteThis year, there has been controvery about the consumption of the 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. You can now purchase them already in bags of 12 (one for each ring of the chapel bell). The grapes are now seedless and have even been peeled for you. What used to be a challenge to consume them so fast is now over before the fifth stroke of midnight. While it may seem sad to see some traditions change, the upside may be fewer hymlec manuvers needing to be completed on your fellow revelers.