Above is a portrait by Declan, our future artist for America. Please notice Wyatt has stuck his toes in the water too. Dan our current artist in residence commented, “I can see it. It’s a decent resemblance.” After three days on the road, we have finally made it home. Dan and Britt are in the Lou too. Lunch today with them at Southwest Diner. Having to plough through winter storm Ezra made for a grueling trip back. This drive has swung our personal pendulum towards flying to California, which will be our next trip, the first of 2026. We have satellite radio. With more than 500 stations, we almost always listen to just one, the Sixties channel. On this station there is one DJ who is our favorite, Plash Phelps. He does the morning show, at least on days where he is not traveling and he travels a lot. He is kind of our role model. Not that we are in his league, but it gives us something to shoot for.
In the dwindling days before Christmas, we are feverously preparing for that day of days, all the while knowing that we are on an accelerated schedule. Following that old saw, go east old man, I find our holiday agenda much advanced. Before I can even think about sitting around on Christmas morning, all warm and toasty, with my family all around, opening presents, I know that I first have miles to go before I can sleep and then be awakened from that long winter’s nap.
In this long countdown where time has first dilated, stretching to a distant horizon that seemingly would never be reached, before suddenly snapping back into place, we are close enough now to have weather forecasts for our trip back east. For late December it is looking pretty good. There is no blizzard of ’25 in the offing that is if you believe the weatherman. Now the return trip is still up for grabs, but I’ll leave that question for another day.
Racing forward now, all the little things that have been too long put off are all yammering together for my attention like a pack of yapping dogs. This trip is more complicated than most and requires more planning, but now I find myself rushed to throw caution to the wind and to throw everything that we are bringing all higgly piggly into the back of the car and just go.
Wait! There is still time. Consider carefully before you rashly act. Before you throw that first pair of pants into a suitcase, think! Curate your belongings. What will you need and what can you do without? I am now demanding from my pants attributes I am also seeking in others and in myself. I want them to be forgiving and reassuring. I want them to nurture me. I want them to say: “I was there, too. I experienced it. I came out on the other side more carefree and less rigid. And I learned about the importance of ventilation in the process.”
Yesterday’s snow first turned to slush. I am so glad that I got out then and squeegeed it off of the walks, because it would have all turned to ice by now. I wish that I had also cleaned off the car, because it is now frozen in place. The thought of scaping the car is too damn daunting, so I’ll just stay inside, because Baby, it’s cold outside. There is enough food in still the larder. Baby, it’s cold outside. I’ll go shopping tomorrow. Baby, it’s cold outside. I should have put up the X-mas lights before. Baby, it’s cold outside. That will now have to wait until later. Baby, it’s cold outside. I think that I’ll go straight to bed, because Baby, it’s cold outside. Baby, it’s cold outside. Baby, it’s cold outside.
Typical snow forecast chronology: 2-4″, 1-3″, 1-2″, about 1″, less than 1″. This sequence is the typical modus operandi around here. Forecasts begin with much fanfare, people rush to the store, to buy milk and bread, but when it finally comes time for the snow to hit the road, nada. The snow had already begun, when I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. My worst fears looked like they would be realized, with only a dusting of snow outside the bedroom window. Imagine my surprise, when I awoke to this! 5″?!?
This snow won’t last long. The temperature is already at the tipping point. It is supposed to rain this afternoon, which will wash all this away, but it is a beautiful way to kick off the holiday season. Even though it will rain, and we need it, the snow was nice to see, if only for a little while. Besides when the roads clear, I can get to the grocery store and buy some more milk and bread.
