whirlwind (update)

The Fam got together for brunch at Suz's house a few days before Xmas (we have some who celebrate that holly-day, some who don't).  I've always admired families who gathered for events and wound up hanging out all day; with my family - there's usually a set arrival time, we visit for a couple of hours, help whoever hosted with the clean up, and then head home. Three, four hours, max.  But this day was touched by magic: we all arrived around 11:30ish, and the party didn't break up until about 6:30.  Beaners played hide and seek with whoever they could rally for the challenge, there was a dart game downstairs, conversations blended and morphed, great music played, and gifts were presented to the young ones.  At some point in the afternoon, the community fire department drove around town with Santa on a big old truck, and when we heard them nearby, a bunch of us went to the end of the driveway to meet them; Santa handed out candy canes to the Beaners while the rest of us delighted in their delight.  A sweet day.

Old high school buds converged on Joisey to visit their folks for holly-daze, and I reaped the benefits.  Much visiting and fun.  MB is in the US from Germany visiting family in ze Princeton area and will be taking a week down in Austin to put some finishing touches on album #2.  (and fyi - her first release [an EP of 5 songs] is now available on iTunes! or [since will requested this ...] you can also listen to many of them on her myspace page ...)  (but i digress) ... Marty was in from Miami, and Ami was in from central PA.  Marty and I dropped in on Ami and her folks on Xmas day, and a handful of us managed to coordinate schedules the next day to meet up at Karen's house (she now teaches junior high english for the same school district we went to).  Laura (who also lives in the princeton area) had an erotic novel (porn for girls) published some years ago (we all bust her chops that the main character of clarissa is a college professor who does not like orange juice, traits she has in common with ms. laura herself ...); Marty gave a brilliant dramatic reading from the book, which had Laura begging him to stop, and the rest of us in stitches.  Nothin' like old friends.

And on a similiar theme ... I had a surprise visitor this past weekend.  For years Daf and I have said that it would be great if we lived closer cause we miss having the chance to just hang out (he lives near DC).  The other day we caught up on the phone and I filled him in about my plans to connect with The Kid over the weekend (he came up for some new years festivities w/college buddies). With no big weekend plans himself, suddenly Daf's saying: Well, if I get on the road in an hour, I could be in Jersey by 6, and a plan was hatched. 

I know many people scratch their heads at our continued friendship, and many have asked why we don't just back together if we get on so well, but while the story of our marriage had a beginning, middle and end, the story of our friendship is still going.  I understand why it's odd to many people; I'm not so naive to think that everyone can (or wants to) stay friends with people they were married to (or in committed relationships with) - or that it's that easy to do, even if that's the intention - but I feel lucky we've done it. 

Hanging with the boys (and the kid's adorable girlfriend) in NY was such a treat.  We didn't do anything special ... no shows, no museums.  We just wandered the Village ... grabbed a hot drink, wandered a few stores, people-watched.  It would have been fine to meet up with The Kid and girlfriend myself, but there's something so easy and natural about the way Daf, The Kid and I spend time together (and those times are increasingly rare).  It was a lovely day.  We are a family-ish still, in our own bizarre way. 

Going to be hanging with Bean, Mrs. Bean and Beaners for dinner tonight, and then home for my somewhat usual relaxing, simmering and writing version of celebrating New Years Eve ... I'm not a big fan of the partying version ... I'm more a reflective sort (go figure).  I'll probably be in bed by 11 too ... I'm such a wild woman. 

Happy New Year ...

Comments

[Marilyn]

Hey, you, Happy New Year! What a recap! Sounds like a grand time all around! xoxo

[Will]

Congrats on a wonderful holliday. (But you didn't put the link to your friend's EP in your post. Could I get that? I'd love to have a listen.) :-)

[Kerstin]

Sounds like my kind of holidays! Catching up with family and friends, I love it. When it's as condensed as it usually is over the Christmas season I am often left feeling emotionally exhausted, but also very happy. I like how you describe your relationship with your ex-husband, it sounds healthy and wonderful to me. Like you say, not every can or wants to do this with an ex-partner, but it's nice to see that it is possible.

After a jam-packed trip to Cologne and London for Christmas we also enjoyed a quiet New Year; I used to love a good party but this is not so important anymore.

Sending you warm wishes for a wonderful, happy and healthy 2008!