Merry Christmas

Oh, it is lovely to be back "home" in Pennsylvania. It's always a little weird to come back to a house that is less and less mine every year. There are reminders everywhere of what a different world this is than the one I'm used to these days. But it's good because it reminds me of where I came from.

Today, after opening presents in the morning (after cinnamon rolls and a cup of DD coffee), we drove down to visit the graves of my aunt Anna Mae and my great grandmother. Philadelphia... man, what a trip. I can't tell if it was always so run-down and I just never realized as a kid, or if it's entropy at work. But it's such a startling reminder of how the other half lives. I feel truly blessed to have lived the life I've lived so far. I am happy for my parents that they too escaped those neighborhoods.

Anyway, the big point here is that traveling 3,000 miles in a matter of hours can really do stuff to your perception and your emotions. Just yesterday around this time I was somewhere over the Great Lakes. Weird. Airports at ungodly hours during Christmas time also play with my emotions. In a good way. I had time to kill yesterday morning at SeaTac. Here are some things I saw:

1) Old-timey carolers. It was kind of random, but lovely. They just walk through the airport singing songs in 4-part harmony. Strange thing at 6 AM though. I first mistook them for Menonites. Then I remembered where I was. And also they started on their next song.

2) A girl sitting with a cup of Starbucks coffee: she had a sleeve around it (natch), but she was also drinking it through a straw. Apparently I am not as original as I thought. Or maybe I started a trend. I should have looked into Trademark law sooner.

3) While perusing the the shops in the main terminal, a picture frame with part of an e.e.cummings poem on it. It's funny how I was able to recognize it even though it's not one I've ever read before. I still don't understand how anyone could not like e.e. cummings. But maybe that's just me.

4) Little girls "riding horsies" through the terminal. They were so small. It's sad that we lose our ability to see invisible horsies as we grow.

5) Twilight coffee! It's probably a good thing I get back at midnight. I would be tempted to buy it.

6) A sticker: Milk sucks. Got margaritas?

7) NO CHRISTMAS TREES. Just one small pink (lest red should offend anyone, I suppose) poinsettia. I am for equal opportunity in public spaces. But really, Washington is the Evergreen State. Put a Star of David on top- I won't get offended. But no trees at all makes me a little sad.

Conversely, seen at Philadelphia International:

1) Bearded lady. For real. You'll have to take my word for it, though. There was no subtle way to take a picture.
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Also, it's my first Christmas as a Christian.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to thee, O Israel!

Merry Christmas