So happy days are here at last! The horrible holidays are over! Let us all rejoice. Okay, Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are over (right?), which means we can stop giving random things to people we love as a token of that love. Sorry, I’m not sure about the second two but I’ve never been over-thrilled by holidays like Christmas–or, as I lovingly refer to them, consumerdays. There is only so much stuff one person can need (or want) before it all becomes an obnoxious bid to be able say you spent the most money on the largest piece of crap. I understand the idea of community bound up in these traditional days–but what does it say about our culture that family only gathers in large groups on religious and national holidays…and at family reunions? I’m not sure I understand just how a new sweater or piece of jewelry symbolizes love–whatever happened to something that you get me (or make me!!!!) because it reminds you of me? Anyone up for macaroni art or writing me a piece of poetry? And I hate to sound like a spoiled teenager (though I am lucky and grateful enough that when anyone puts those words together to describe me, I am able to own up to them), but I don’t like consumerdays. I’d much rather just spend some time with family and friends–that’s a big enough gift for me.
 Although, I have to admit that I received two wonderful gifts this Christmas–a DVD of Danny Bhoy’s live performance at the Sydney Opera House from July and a Danny Bhoy T-shirt (that counts as one because they came together) and the movie Waitress on DVD.  They’re really the only things I really wanted this season. And if you’re at all interested in great unusual (slight chick-flick) movies, then Waitress with Keri Russell cannot disappoint.
 I am writing from Greenville, NC, sitting at the dining table of my Spanish grandmother who just cooked me (the vegetarian) soup with turkey bones (only for the flavor!) in it. Lovely, but I decline. Thank you. I am a picky eater, I’ll admit to that. We will be staying here for the next four days and then we will press on to Florida where I hope the daily temperature range is 70 to 95*F. I need some heat. At this point, it has become clear that I will either need to settle down and have a home base in Florida or southern California (which are both possible and both have high Spanish-speaking populations) when I grow up or move nomadically through tropical country. I say when I grow up, but I don’t need to do that for a long while yet.
So I’m going to hope you all had happy consumerdays and genuinely wish you all a wonderful New Year’s Eve (now that’s a holy-day I can get behind). And I’ll write again soon…hopefully with pictures of Florida.
 Give it away,
Jordan
Quote of the week:
“You were on a mission, Jordan, [every time you sleepwalked/sleptwalked (?) last year]” - Chet’la Sebree - Best roomie ever
This is a painting on one of the buildings at Twin Oaks - the intentional eco-village. It reminds me of the Counting Crows song, “Rain King” in which Adam sings, “When I think of heaven, deliver me in a black-winged bird. I think of flying down in your sea of pins and feathers and all other instruments of faith and sex and God in the belly of a black-winged bird.” - Listen to it on iTunes. I’ll bet you’ll love it like I do. Or maybe not, but whatever.
