Sunday, December 23, 2007

Mise-en-scene



It's been a snowy weekend here and right now it's almost a bit Doctor Zhivagoesque. The wind is really whipping around and it looks like a snow globe placed in a paint shaker. On days like this, it's nice to be home, sitting at my dining room table, safe from the elements.

We tend to view holidays with nostalgia, especially this time of year. We've been dreaming of a White Christmas for a long time and it's been a mixed bet lately; many times we haven't had a lot of snow for the holidays. I remember it being different when I was a kid; it always seemed like there was snow on the ground, but that may be an example of memories playing tricks on us. So far this has been an old fashioned winter, as we like to describe it. The kids were out playing in the snow yesterday and will probably be back out there tomorrow, once the wind dies down a little bit.

We travel every other Christmas and this year is one of the years we've stayed home. It's been a different Christmas season this year; things are changing for our family and the kids are growing up quickly. We've tended to spend Christmas Day either at my in-laws, or with my family back in Wisconsin. Many times we've been forced to travel. Traveling on Christmas Day is no good - most places are closed and the only food on offer is what you can buy in a gas station. Several times we've eaten a picnic lunch at a truck stop in Wausau. That's not a memory you want to cling to. This year, Christmas is at our house. We've been here for over 10 years now and it really is time. Mrs. D and the kids are in the kitchen right now, making fudge. There may be Christmas cookies made later today, or maybe tomorrow. I'm not entirely sure how it will all play out, but it feels right.

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