28 December 2006
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
There’s always a requisite span of time where I find myself ruminating before I’m ready to talk about the holidays. Family is very important to me, but it often feels as if I’m the only one within it who shares this sentiment.
Somewhere in the last decade that feeling seems to have faded away from my household, with only a modicum of that spirit remaining. I cannot recall the last time we had a tree up and decorated. Christmas eve dinner was homemade bulgogi — Korean BBQ — and I cooked my chicken rigatoni alla vodka recipe on Christmas day.
My father and I took the time to prepare the meal, set the table, and put forth the effort to make it very nice. When dinner was called, my brothers and one of their girlfriends — mom was at work unfortunately — came into the kitchen, served themselves, and scattered about the house, only to plop down onto the couch with plates in hand in front of the television. That I’m even complaining about the holiday leaves me sad.
It leaves me sad that I had a nicer holiday spent instant messaging and on the phone with friends spread across the country. Without them, the holiday would have been a total bust.
The phrase is supposed to be friends and family, right? Not just one or the other.
Hi Wee William,
Thank you for introducing yourself. I am currently in love with blogging culture and am amazed and thankful for the friends I have made as a direct result of this magic.
It takes a certain amount of gutsiness to put your thoughts out for the world to see and even more courage to contact strangers. I’ve found that making friends this way is not all that different than making friends more traditionally — drinking buddies, bookstore browsing, through other friends, and so on. You just know when you meet your people.
It’s nice to meet you.
GG
ps: your open letter to the woman who peeled the orange is as delicate and engaging as the act you witnessed. It was a pleasure to read.
29 December 2006: 7:18 pm
Oh, and I almost forgot…your portrait of Jacques Sandulescu is absolutely beautiful.
29 December 2006: 7:56 pm
Glam,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m just getting back into the blogging community after a two year hiatus, unless you count LiveJournal (which I don’t). This site was a blog, before blogs were blogs. There weren’t comments nor was there a community of bloggers like there is now.
However, now I’m looking forward to making friends with you, as well as others through this medium.
Jacques is an amazing man. I recommend his book, Donbas if you get a chance. If you can’t find it for sale, I might be able to loan it (and his follow-up, Hunger’s Rogues as well) on condition that I get them returned! If ever you’re looking for inspiration in the face of adversity, Jacques will inspire.
Meeting him blew my mind. That reminds me I should probably get in touch with him. It’s been nearly two years since he and I (and his lovely wife) have spoken.
Keep in touch!
Wee William
30 December 2006: 9:06 am
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