Total Zen in 2010

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou

/ wvfurandroot / 2 Comments

I stumbled across the above video while playing with my new Christmas present – a Roku video thingie.

I wanted the Roku so that I could watch streaming Netflicks on my television rather than on the laptop.  While I understand it also had “channels” – I didn’t think on that too much.  The channels are a heap big bunch of fun – they kind of remind me of the old wild west days of early satellite television. I’ve already wasted enormous amounts of time on this thing reminding me why getting rid of television was such a good move for me.

Thus far I’ve watched several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, classic commercials, old Cary Grant movies, a live stream of the blizzard in New York, and cooking lessons on the preparation of monkfish.

Beach Walks with Rox were a nice little find.  While it wasn’t Maui, I did live in Hawaii as a child within walking distance of a beach nobody but me seemed to go to.

We left Hawaii shortly after Christmas one year and arrived on the mainland to what was a particularly harsh winter.  We drove from San Francisco to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan wearing what passed for winter coats in Honolulu.  I hadn’t experienced snow and certainly not snow of such magnitude.  The initial delight faded when the cold set into my thin bones.

We’ve had a white Christmas this year which has been aggravating, but pretty cool too.  It was nice having the day look like a Norman Rockwell painting.  But I’ve wearied of this now that I’m expected to resume something of a normal life.  My car has been at the bottom of the hill for 3 weeks.  My daily perambulation is getting old.

I’m certain a daily walk on a Maui beach never gets old. If you’re weary of snow, cold and winter, consider the video a small gift from me and Rox.

This is a busy week for me.  If I don’t do it later, let me wish a Hau’oli Makahiki Hou to y’all now.  [Translated:  Happy New Year] 

Love’s Pure Light

/ wvfurandroot / 2 Comments

All is calm, all is bright.

I just got home after spending Christmas Eve with my folks. It was good. It was all good.

After dinner, but before my son arrived, I came back home to get gifts, check on the dogs, and enjoy a few moments alone. I sat under the tree (note the spiffy new Yak-Traks on my boots – I’m set for the hill now!) – it was a nice interlude – enjoying the calm before the storm of family frivolity – and the potential for drama.

As usual, I and everyone else have been running at 90 mph to get to this point – the point where you can just sit and take it all in.

My son arrived safely from Charlotte (I had fretted). I teased my brother and bonded some more with my sister-in-law. My great-nephews (sheesh, how can I be this old?) are just too cute. My nephew’s wife is ready to produce a baby boy any second. My dad, He-Who-Hates-Christmas, was positively jolly. My mom was exhausted and we managed to make her sit down and just be still. My son’s socks were knocked off by his grandfather’s gift. And did I mention my son brought hand-made truffles, a beautiful wine, and enough foie gras to keep me fat for a year? No? Well, he did. He also brought the puppies. Babette isn’t thrilled, but they are.

No drama this Christmas. All is calm.

Someday I'm going to have a camera that can handle this kind of shot.

Santa was very good to me. Santa is always very good to me.

As I walked back home, the promised snow was falling. I could see the twinkle lights in my kitchen window and the light shining from my son’s bedroom. All is bright.

We may or may not have a snow storm. The gentle flakes of this evening may be a snow-in tomorrow. And that’s fine too. I don’t have to go anywhere, I don’t want to go anywhere. All my people are safe and warm. Come Tuesday, HMO’Keefe will be here and I will have a second Christmas.

I am so blessed. I hope you are too. And may your night be silent while the snow falls and children dream.