Up and at ’em and at ’em and at ’em. Finished the packing, had a brunch with my father-in-law at a local diner. Packed up the car and he took us to the airport. They put on a wonderful Christmas, my in-laws.
Shame about the traveling though. This trip started with a four hour drive. Figure in the time from the parking spot to the airport, the airport wait, the two hours in the plane and then the 45 minutes or so to their home and you have an entire day of travel. On the other hand, a full day of travel means moving something like nine degrees to the north. It snowed on me there.
The downside to a lovely visit, though, is the return trip. So we packed our bags with all of our things and Christmas plunder — Santa was far too good, as I was not — and then went through the tiny local airport, onto the windy tarmac and into the tiny plane.
We landed in Atlanta, the plane took off late but landed more or less on time. Caught the shuttle to the car and saw this:
And that’s what happens when you move nine degrees south in latitude.
Tonight we had barbecue and celebrated the new year with friends. One of them used the word “bifurcated” in a conversation about 1980s music — you can tell he’s in a doctoral program. Another discussed the capabilities of his kevlar vest. He works with the ABI. The fire chief stopped by, because he is a friend of the host. One woman pronounced every song her favorite. Another guy, a financier, managed the impossible task of being in three different conversations in two different physical locations of the party.
Most of that was before the counting down and the silly string and noisemakers.
We all decided that it was beyond time for 2012 to be gone. In that boundless optimism that comes along when you’re through with one year some resolved that 2013 can only be better.
It started out with momentum, after all. We laughed at Mayans and watched the Senate, kicking and screaming, doing something resembling their job. At a party full of blue collar and white collar people, it was good to see people who still work hard, believe in themselves and what they do. That’s what a new year’s optimism is all about, belief in one’s self.
Good to have when you’re going around the sun.
