2021 is almost in the books. So are the interrupting chickens. The big blue one peered over the wall at us as we drove back from dropping Ben off at Onion Station - at least that’s what it can sound like if the hyphenation and pagination aren’t well coordinated. We didn’t realize he could see over the wall and we hadn’t seen him for three or so years, but how can one forget one’s favorite blue chicken? Even if one is supposed to call it a rooster (thanks Susan R.), chicken is the genre of the beast – why the gender specificity?
Some folks, including family members, wonder how this process works. Others don’t. If you are the latter, feel free to skip to the next paragraph. Typically on Thanksgiving weekend I sit down and let my mind think about things we have experienced, usually aided by a look through my phone’s photos, heavily weighted toward immediately recent events. This year, I sat to begin drafting on my phone, sitting on the couch at Rachel’s home. I noticed a children’s book that included in its title, “The Interrupting Chicken.” That reminded me that we had, just the previous day, dropped Ben off at Union Station to take the train back to NYC. As we drove toward home, I noticed for the first time, that the Blue Rooster Sculpture that sits on the roof of the National Art Museum on Constitution Ave. is visible from the street. That reminded me of an online conversation I had a few years back about that bird statue. So that’s the kind of thing that gets my mind going on this task. So, now you know.
Richard has a pullover that says HI on it. Some folks think he’s angling for the big island. He didn’t move to San Diego, but many folks suggested it. The weather seems to have improved, however, how’s that for climate change? Maybe it’s just more intense? Doesn’t seem so, but it’s hard to say from Zoom. Seems fun so far, 10+ months into it. He didn’t get to high-five people this year, or last year for that matter, but he was able to again ask young people about the timing of their simians. Somehow it never gets older than he is, but Covid-19 does. Roch and Rich have managed to avoid the modern plague. He was a Pfizer guy you know – and she follows suit – 3 times and counting (probably). As easy as cake, a piece of pie, as they said in Moscow and St. Petersburg back in 2010 (I think).
In February 2021, Richard left the economics consulting firm where he had been a partner for just over 9 years to join a younger firm with HQ in San Diego. He still works mostly from our home office in VA. It’s been a great gig so far, and he is not inclined to move to SoCal, or Hawaii, despite the many suggestions to such effect. But he does actually have a pullover that has an embroidered “HI” in the upper right part of the chest – a bit of a longer story. He thinks that’s funny, and not being able to “high-5” strangers on the street, that’s a new way to be friendly without being arrested. As our church returned to in person meetings (he teaches a Sunday School class for High School Jrs and Srs) he did again ask his nutty questions (call them jokes?) to children and teenagers, mostly leaving them puzzled. Rochelle and Richard have managed not to catch Covid, and have been vaccinated and boosted. Rochelle was able to get hers early because she teaches in local schools, and Richard didn’t want to wait for VA to lower its age limit, so he flew to UT, where there was apparently XS supply of vaccine, to get his shot(s). That speaks to his willingness to pay... The boosters were available in VA, fortunately. Neither of us had meaningful reactions to the vaccine doses, but Rochelle did feel it more than did Richard – but then he’s always been rather insensitive, some folks say.
One recent day, I’m told, it was 67 degrees in Bozeman. How about Helena? Spring has sprung, fall has fell, winter’s almost here, and it’s cold as… Broadlands. In Highland, I understand it was 55. In Walnut Creek, it was 66, but maybe someone broke into Nordstroms, or maybe McDonalds and took all the fries – just a few at a time. The weather in Parsippany is probably about the same as on Broadway; I didn’t check. But why look back? Upward and onward! Word is that it was 55 degrees in Centerpath one recent day. Maybe we’ll land there. The grandchildren think they have a great grandmother. They do. Other kids have the same opinion. And they do what kids do, so ask their parents. Some are happier in their new (sometimes temporary) abodes than others. Give it some time, think I.
Rachel and family temporarily relocated to VA earlier this year. Shiloh is on an 18-month work assignment in the region so the family is nearby. That has been quite nice for us. We hope they can tolerate being within a 30 minute drive of us. It seems at least that the kids are happy to have Grandma Shell nearby, though they miss things in MT. Rochelle continues to impress lots of young people she teaches – particularly little boys. She is great before her time. Arrin and family are still in Utah County, having moved from the Bay Area while still working in SF, and Ben moved from 150 ish to 84ish near Broadway, but still works in NJ, though I don’t know how often he makes the reverse commute. I think not often. Rochelle and Richard continue with plans to build a home in UT. We don’t know when that will actually happen, but the plans will be done soon and preliminary approval by the HOA is in the bag.
One highlight of the year was meeting Billie Eilish (thanks Ben) and seeing that she has quite flexible elbows – you’d be amazed how important some people think that is. We also enjoyed watching her and Chocolate Zane’s Cookie deal with freshly caught and cooked Bay Crab. Some of us, but mostly Richard, object to the boiling of sentient beings, to say nothing of the mustard, so we just watched. Rachel, Shiloh, Arrin, Marcus, and Ben – and Billie and the Cookie, as mentioned, don’t have such scruples, and they love mustard on hot dogs. Several other folks also joined in the cracking and dipping. So, sail away Raymond and eat up. We did lots of other stuff, like crossing the big lake at daybreak, leaving quite a wake. Quite a show that is, especially with a fully fuzzy face which lived about 4 weeks, and a painting of a mountain nobody knows. We didn’t get to go that little rock in the ocean of which Richard is so fond – couldn’t risk getting stuck there and not making it to Amwayville. Maybe 2022, if Ο, Π, Ρ, Σ, or Φ (or something else) doesn’t get us.
We met a friend of Ben’s who has good, bendy elbows. At least that’s what Ben told Richard about her when he inquired. We haven’t really heard her sing yet. Summer included family sailing and crabbing near the Chesapeake at Rochelle’s sister’s family place down the peninsula. Most of us ate the crabs, but not all – some with more gusto than others. Oh, and Rochelle’s nephew Zane got married and played golf, but I don’t think he wrote any new songs. One hit was enough. His new wife, from AZ, had been a land lubber vegetarian previously – and probably is again. Rochelle also drove west from DC to MT with Rachel and kids, then Rich flew to MT and drove the car home with Roch. We took the sunrise Lake Michigan Ferry, which is actually a pretty cool ride – we stopped at a little art gallery in MI. Richard went for a month without a razor and became fuzzy faced. Roch wasn’t much of a fan. We had plans twice for an island trip, but each time, the threat of not being able to re-enter the country stopped us. We’ll try again next year, hoping that we aren’t again stymied by a virus variant, civil war, or something else.
Bananas are best when they are just right – but isn’t everything? Cooking oatmeal is a waste of time. If everyone quit cooking oatmeal, there would be fewer injuries. Maybe health care costs would go down! Richard did not throw a pot, or tumble rocks, but at least he doesn’t have a bowling ball without finger holes. Rochelle borrowed an idea from Arrin and started a new business. She doesn’t charge for her product, however, and she makes it only in very limited quantities, but it is very popular among the consumers – it makes them cry, kind of like Unions. Ever heard of chiasmus?
Richard has always been particular about the ripeness of the bananas he eats, but this year, not getting out all that much, he decided to put his foot down – fortunately, he didn’t slip on any peels. To satisfy his preference, a banana has to be slightly green – ripe enough to have a banana flavor, but still tart and firm. If it has any little brown dots on the skin, he is likely to throw it out the window like a boomerang. Since he didn’t walk 4 million steps this year, he ate raw oatmeal with walnut halves, craisins and a sliced banana almost every morning, and if there wasn’t a banana of the right tenure in the house, he more than once drove to the grocery story to buy just one banana. You know, sometimes they just don’t last. I guess that might classify him as an eco-terrorist. He’s OK with that.
If you want more, there’s always rrmanning.blogspot.com.
If you wanted it, you are here already. So there.
Merry Christmas everyone, and happy New Year and whatever is next for you and yours.
This turns out to be a far more straightforward “translation” than is typically provided. I hope that doesn’t spoil it for you. We do hope you have a happy holiday season and that you find happiness and joy with those you love. We certainly do.
