On Christmas Day this year, my oldest brother Paul flew in to Sioux Center in the evening. My papa's birthday is the day after, on Boxing Day the 26th, but he was departing to Korea that day, so we celebrated three, maybe four, things that day. Mum didn't feel like cooking - this was an ambiguous situation. Anybody who's taken a theology class with my dad has been to our house for foods, so you know what you're missing. On the other side, this meant I got to spend a few relaxing days planning, prepping, baking and cooking. It was fun. Wheat bread, black olives, roast with red wine pan sauce, smoked gouda mashed potatoes (excellent) and stuffed mushrooms. Absolutely.
It's over now. Dad is gone, we've eaten other meals and set our minds on other things. I've been staying up late because I can, because I'm an owl like my father and because (this last one should justify it all) I've been trying to set my sleep schedule around to Philippines time. Of course, it will all be thrown off-track after 21 hours in the air. I hope I don't barf.
Yesterday, I sat with my mum in the basement and learned how to sew on buttons. I haven't seen her laugh so hard in a very long time. She was making fun of me. This is fine, I swear. I didn't prick myself once and I learned how to, though it takes a very, very long time. I'll just have to rip my shirts off more often and get more practice.
Last night I stayed up late and fought a looming sense of solitude. Everyone was sleeping, I imagine. It was almost four. I read a story by Saul Bellow, then Charles D'ambrosio, then Edward P. Jones and then a very short, very lovely piece by Rolf Yngve titled The Quail.
"The couple dressed, whispering about the bird and watching them peck breakfast from the lawn. He made coffee, warmed rolls and they ate at the kitchen table where they could watch the covey. He opened the window; they could smell the morning dampness and apple blossoms. Sun came through the window; the rolls were sweet with raisins and they did not have to say anything to each other."
Posts
nice.
ReplyDelete