The good news is that today was the last day of classes until the end of January. The bad news is twofold: final papers to grade, and no income till aforementioned date. I sure need the rest, though. Maybe I can do exciting things like get my house cleaned and my hair dyed and my plumbing fixed and the oil changed in my car and stuff.
I’m not trying to make Molly jealous or anything (and by the way, if you haven’t been reading her blog about her trip to Chile, you should), but she’s not the only one who’s going to be seeing volcanoes. I have only three weeks in which to brush the dust off of my Spanish, so its insufficiency can shine like a jewel in the sun, and so that I can bring levity to the Guatemaltecos. Molly: Maria wrote today and suggested we go to Lago de Atitlí¡n for New Year’s. I’d thought it would be fun to stay in town and watch kids blow fingers off with fireworks, per local tradition. But I think her idea has merit. Esta vez, no necesitaré regatear con el capití¡n de una lancha en Panajachel, porque ella me ayudarí¡. Do you know how long it took me to write that one sentence? Yeesh. Remember (I’m still writing to Molly now) when we spent a few days there before Christmas and I was almost shot dead by Santa? Had he been turned 90 degrees to the left, you would have a good story to tell.
Eleni and Emmy are here. I look forward to my Fridays. They were here when I got home from work, and when Emmy saw me she flung out her arms and stretched out of her daddy’s arms to reach me. Once in my arms, she leaned her little head tight into my chest and cuddled. Oh, man. What could be better than to be loved by such a bright little flame?
She is now asleep by my feet on my meditation pillow, wrapped in the yellow blanket that her great-granny made her. (That very same great-granny turned 83 today. Happy birthday, Great Granny!) It took some doing to get her to conk out. I swaddled her flailing body — she was overwrought — and started to sing to her. After quite a bit of rebellion, she had no recourse but to sleep, or else suffer the shrill notes.
I really really want to walk down the street for an ice cream cone, but Eleni is asleep in a different part of the house, and her dinner is getting cold, and I can’t leave Emmy alone.
In the following video you will see two noteworthy events from before everyone conked out. The first is that now, when Eleni calls, “Ember?”, Ember automatically goes “woof woof,” without having to be asked what the doggie says. The second was a stunner to me. I was lying on the floor near her. She crawled over and planted a kiss on my cheek. Aw, man.
Click once, twice, thrice to view.
[flashvideo filename=wp-content/video/kisskiss.flv image=wp-content/video/kisskiss.jpg /]
But why would I be jealous? I’ve seen volcanoes. The only emotion I can feel about the fact that you’ll see them *too* is joy. That’ll be great being in Atitlí¡n for NYE – what beauty! Tambií©n, prefiero tener una madre viva y maloliente, en vez de un cuento interesante.
Don’t be silly, your voice ain’t shrill, it’s lovely.
Sweet little KISS!
Jeeeeez. Do you know what ReCaptcha just wanted me to type? διάδοχος , that’s what. How do you expect me to do that, ReCaptcha?! That’s Eleni’s job.