the view from H6

So O'Hare on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. True to form my grandfather insisted I leave for the airport a full 3 1/2 hours prior to my departure... so 30 minutes later I had successfully navigated security with my gigantic cello case only to find my flight already 40 minutes delayed. It's probably more now but I'm afraid to look. So at any rate one of the baggage guys has a nice singing voice and keeps getting on the gate intercom and singing Christmas carols... It's kind of a stress reliever, people get all starry-eyed and just grin and clap like goons when he's done. Also the woman sitting down the row from me is traveling with her jack russell terrier and the dog is pretty out of control and keeps begging people for their McDonalds. I'm a little concerned about where the dog is going pee/poo. My cello case is looking like a prime target so I'm keeping an eye out.

I'm wishing I had a friend with me. Like Kate, mostly. now the puppy is eating an empty nyquil box off the floor. Tonight is my mom's holiday party so I get to come home directly in the middle of preparation madness. Last year I got completely plastered and ended up singing O Holy Night in front of the entire party doing vibrato by pulling on my neck skin. Hot mess.

Christmas Spirit?

I've gotten in the habit of watching TV while its muted. I do it mostly when I'm in the apartment with Kate at work and I think I just like some movement in my peripheral vision. I've had ESPN on mute since about 9:15 this morning which is probably a massacre on my carbon emissions number. It's also led me to ponder why the federal government considers it an efficient use of their time to investigate steroid use amongst major league baseball players. Is this really a pressing national concern?

I'm driving to Chicago tonight and flying to Dallas tomorrow and I'm the closest to "melancholy" that I've felt in a while. I'm just sad about being a way from Kate. I get really frustrated when we have to be a part for extended periods of time especially at occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think we both feel too young to give up holiday experiences with our nuclear families but lately she's feeling equally like my family. One of my anthropology books called it the "family of procreation" but I think this sounds too biological and utilitarian.

My mom keeps calling me about Christmas present ideas and I don't have the heart to say that the last thing I want to do for the 3 days leading up to tuesday is fight the raging hordes at Mockingbird Station. Le sigh. I'm excited for some family time and to see the dogs, I just feel a little down when I think about it without Kate.