there and back

Wow, since the last post a while ago, I've been there and back. It was my first trip home in two years and for the first time ever in my life, I felt a little foreign in the place that I hold closest to my heart. I guess that goes along with being so far away for so long, and just culture shock in general. But it was a fantastic trip, and I got persective on friends and family that I never realized I would see. Amelia is like twice the size and twice as sweet as before, Zen is some kind of superhuman 2-year old, and I met Rain for the first time ever. I realized I like being an uncle, and I'm not ready to be a father (no, I'm not saying I'm actually about to be one or anything).

The first memory after the long flight home was landing in O'Hare Intl Airport in Chicago, the end-all metropolis of Middle-America. I had the worst culture shock since I was attacked by hare krishnas in LA on my way back from Australia. I've forgotten what an overwhelmingly humungous, angry, rude, mean spirited and cocky people Americans can be. I think I've come pretty accustomed to the immediate respect and formalities you encounter when you meet someone in Japan. But, I also did appreciate being able to just strike up an informal conversation with the cashier lady, I can just be like "Yo, hey Merry Christmas!" and she's like "Thanks hun, it's gonna be a Merry Christmas, mmm hmmmmmm" or the gas station guy that said "Hey you look like my friend Bob!" So it all balances out.

Getting home was great and the normal xmas eve party was great. The juice box sake that I brought was a big hit. Nobody got hurt jumping the fire this year and Santa came as usual. However, in a blasphemous break from tradition, I was forced into some kind of cruel Growing Up Land by not being given a stocking for the first time in my life. But, again, it all balances out...the babies had massive stockings and they were super happy...the Christmas morning torch was passed on to the next generation. So be it, I guess.

My friend Carolyn's wedding at the Loretto was great, and made even funner by the record snowfall that came that night. Nearly 3 feet of snow fell in Santa Fe over a couple days, which caused hell for a lot of people, but created the best ever wedding night fun by allowing me and my friends to have a drunken snowball fight with the bride in her wedding dress and high heels. That was highlight reel good times.

The snow allowed for a couple days skiing with family on my home hill in Los Alamos, helping the kids make their first snowman, and smiles all around.

Jake's New Years party was great and was made even greater by the good fire and the fact that I smeared everyone and took all their money in the poker tournament. Twice.

I ate amazing thing I haven't eaten in years and I remembered why I once thought that the taste of good green chile can actual put you in an induced state of deep spirituality and belief in a higher power.

Ely and I caused some mischief for old times sake and it was good to see him. I pretty much saw most people I wanted to, except for a few people. Everybody at the party of course and all the old family friends and vatos. I got to play scrabble with Britten and her worthy fiance Brooke, I saw Yvonne holding things together at the museum, Anna at the wedding, I saw Becca and her funny-accented fiance Ross, I saw Kim and Ian (they've been giving speed to their dogs and steroids to their tortoise), I bumped into old camp friends, saw my opera friends and colleagues. But the majority of my time and energy went into the kiddies...luckily Jess and Ray came out from Hawaii so all three of my nieces were around. Man, kids are awesome. And crazy.

I'll update what I've been up to in Japan since my return, but I'll tell you about what I'm doing for my birthday on Saturday...me, Lopaka, Martin and 4 Japanese friends from Tokyo will end up in Hakuba, Nagano, for skiing and live Japanese reggae music. Yes, it's Reggae Snowsplash 2007. Woooo. Check it out www.reggaesnowsplash.com

Pics of Christmas Past and Reggae Future to come.