Friday, December 06, 2002

It seems like I have completely lost my momentum or some thing like that. I thinks perhaps I have intimidated myself with all my aspirations to be a travelogue journalist. Apparently recounting each fascinating detail of my travels is too daunting a task for me to accomplish. Plus I have a ridiculous cold, and it won't go away. Yes. It is all about the cold, and if it weren't for the sleepless nights, the post nasal drip, the eye searing- throat ripping cough, I would have finished my account of being snowed in in Custer, trick or treating with Sponge Bob, caving in Missouri, inhaling brownies in Capitola, and finally finding our way to Bandon By The Sea. There are stories that deserve to be recorded, anecdotes that will inspire and affirm the goodness of this great nation.

In the meantime I should dutifully assure loved ones that the really important things in our life are well. The cats still purr, and are sleeping soundly in sun dappled corners of the house. The tractor cleaned and oiled is wrapped under a tarp, safe from El Nino. The boys are counting down the days til Christmas; their lists are filed in triplicate, and have been safely delivered to the appropriate authorities. Grandma and Grandpa still have their routine. They seem comfortable here at El Rancho. And the chicas are laying as many eggs as ever. The gap that they left, where Sunshine used to roost, has slowly filled in. They are probably sitting a little closer together as our winter weather takes hold. Some days we let them loose to visit the garden. Luna digs like a terrier on a rat hunt, looking for goodies in the flower beds. Rosie is always close behind and eager to share what others have discovered. Gracie regularly flies out of their fenced yard, so she is less thrilled with the privilege of being free to visit the pool and playset.

Tonight is Family Night. We are going to assemble a gingerbread house. Some families use recipes handed down for generations, and we all know Martha has her amazing methods(glass window panes made from hardened sugar.) We have the kit from Target and our glue gun. No more frustrating hours waiting for the "special frosting" to take hold. Our walls instantly come together, and the roof, leveled and aligned, is immediately ready to hold any number of Frosted Mini Wheat roof tiles. We have heard criticism about the use of glue, but we are not subject to the traditions related to gingerbread construction. We make our own rules. As for the frequently asked question: How can you eat the house with the glue all over it? The best answer I have is the question: Would you eat a cookie/candy house constructed by 3 little boys with colds, two coughing adults and one curious cat?

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