December 25, 2008

• Merry Christmas

  Dear Folks,

      

  Christmas at the Long's Home:

  We have had a rather fine Christmas so far, with a few friends dropping by throughout the day.  I could not hope for more.  A friend is indeed a fine entity in this "sordid world of taint and stain," even where he does not always agree with you and yet, like a good brotherly monkey, steadfastly picks the lice out of your coat. 

  So today, I suppose you could say it got as good as it gets, a tainted heaven on earth, so to speak, a faint copy of the real thing in our midsts, the real thing being the true heaven above, where all is perfect according to God's wishes.  We had three adults come by at noon for coffee and conversation.  One man brought a walnut version of a pecan pie, with just about the same filling inside, but English walnuts in place of pecans.  I'll just be honest; the absence of pecans did little to faze my assault on the remaining pieces, after waiting a couple of hours to be polite and let everyone have his fill. 

  I carried half a piece into my wife, catching her while she was on the phone, handling a business call.  We have chocolate, too, by "Feletti 1882".  They call it Cioccolato Fondente Tanzania.  One little part on the label reads, "75% cacao."  Why can't they just write "cocoa"?  Isn't that what they're talking about anyway?  Maybe it sounds fancier, sort of upscale. 

  Hey, maybe I'd better start saying it that way, too, if only to sort of get used to tossing it out, without too much self-consciousness, and behave as if I've always said it that way, suggesting that perhaps I was raised in a city or something to that effect, mystery and sophistication wrapped up in one.  You know, it might not hurt to revamp my flagging persona.  After all, I've been living among South Koreans, and they tend to follow our psychological states, and cultural patterns with a lag of a few decades. Once I hit the streets of small town North Carolina again, I may look dated to beat the band.  But for that, I was dated before, so how much does it really matter?

  We had a nice Christmas, and it is good that my children are happy with modest supply of gifts.  A friend left South Korea, to return to New Zealand, and dropped by beforehand to leave us with a gift to each member of my family, wrapped and set under the tree.  That was quite nice, and still leaves a warm feeling behind.  He is home with his three children now, and wife.  He is a Catholic; whereas, I am a Baptist, but we find common ground on plenty of points. 

  He is older than I, by seven years, so I learn much from his experience in raising children. 

   

  Year's Summation:

  I have a nice mix of music I used to like, posted now on my profile.  I used a service called "Playstation.com" and several of the songs did not come out right.  So, let's sum the year.  I still have a gut.  The thing was not so obvious before that ill-fated day of March, when my colleagues at the elementary school pressured me to play volleyball with them and in the process ignore my daughter's crying pleas to leave and get home on time.   

  Bad choice on my part, but I was new on staff and felt much pressure.  Interestingly, none of them have volunteered to fork out any dough for the surgery I need.  It's no biggie, 200 to 700 thousand won, but we have other things we feel we need more, so I've done OK without surgery, though it aches sometimes, in strange ways, where you wonder if you're not hurting your knee in some permanent way.

  It's been nice, though, knowing that I don't need such a good knee anymore, get along just as fine as frog hair without it now.  I used to run a lot, and now that I can't, am not put out by the lack. Rather, I think to myself that it is a good thing because was about tired of running all the time.  Walking now is grand.  Maybe I will be bummed out if I can't walk.  Now that would be a horse of a different color, no doubt.

  

  Ye Ole "Deer-in-the-headlights" Baby Gaze

  I can't say I've ever had a better Christmas day.  I have not venture outside, and that may be the best part about it.  Everybody came to me, bringing goodies of various sorts.  Too, we haven't overeaten.  So long as I have something creative to work on, I have no tendency to overeat.  That's nice.  I am making more boards for my board game.  Just as soon as I get it copyrighted, I'll begin to use the real name for it.

  Well, Mother calls all to bed.  One friend is still here, and intends to snap a family photo for us for Christmas.  Better get to it.

  

  My Clever Lad Holding Aloft His Power Rangers   &    Bugs Above Getting It On

   

  Mamma Waking Up in the Morning

  

  Tranquility Inheres in the First Shot in the Morning  

  Love, Padooker

  • 8:00 am
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