The Dying of the Light

That Time of Year

when folks drape a lit hairnet over a giant holly and declare it a Christmas tree. I'll leave it to you to judge.

Me, I'd rather just see the holly, or the beautiful flowers folks give those who don't get out much.

'Tis the season.

It's Always Somethin'

Everybody complains sometime about something. 

I complained today to a friend about the ticketing system the College instituted last year for Lessons and Carols, requiring that a person attend a mandatory social gathering two hours before the event (even though theoretically the ticket entitles entry to the Chapel) and turning the service into something very like a performance (I may not be religious, but I know and respect the difference between believing and make-believing).

One person I encountered today complained about the rain and fog, and yet as a resident, she knows it's just weather as usual, especially at this time of year when Mother Nature can't decide whether to be warm or cold (it's been both today).

Plenty of people complain about medical care and its cost -- especially for some reason about dentistry, always suspecting (mind you, these are people of a certain age, that the dentist invents reasons why teeth should be crowned). When I suggest, based on my own personal experience (three surgeries, two different occasions for orthodonture, numerous crowns, four bridges over a lifetime, and plenty of pain in between [one of my parents once said my teeth cost more than my education]) that just maybe a twenty-year old crown is ready for replacement before decay does permanent damage, others scoff and suggest the dentist's daughter needs a fancy wedding or the dentist's husband deserves a great vacation.

One special focus of complaint in Sewanee is The Pig, a local and locally owned grocery store. People say, quite rightly, that the huge Kroger down the mountain has better produce. Well, yes, of course. It also has a much larger population base of shoppers and proximity to suppliers. People say, quite rightly, that the huge Wal-Marts (one in any of three different directions, all half an hour away) are much cheaper. Well, yes, of course, thanks to the company's poor employment record. People say, quite rightly, that both Kroger and Wal-Mart have more variety. Well, yes, of course, they're both much larger stores with much larger turnover, allowing for more frequent refreshment of goods. What I say in return is this: our Pig is locally owned and operated; the folks who work there live up here; and the management has improved it at least a thousand percent in the last four years -- adding locally made bread, locally grown fruit, gluten-free products, vegetarian alternatives, and even growlers for beer.

I have many reasons to love The Pig. In addition to the bulldog I posted the the other day, there's this.

Happy complaining, y'all! 

No Books Were Harmed in the Making of These Trees

The folks at duPont Library know how to de-stress students at end of term: book tree contest, tasty treats, and therapy dogs.

I sure could have used some librarians like this in graduate school!

Unconditional Love

He's just waiting for his master, an elderly man with portable oxygen to whom I said on entering the Pig together, "Your dog just loves you!"

"He loves to travel."

"Nah," I said. "He loves you!"

Yet another reason to love the Pig.

A Little Light

trickled across my computer screen,

just enough to pull me away from my work,

just enough to last one walk around the lake,

shouting joyfully rain!rain!rain! in a sherrrring cresdendo

down the run-off channel, 

creating an ephemeral waterfall.

Often, I am thankful for such small, large things.

And Then Reality Hit

Return journey, heavy traffic, rain, fog, work and more work, errands, veterinary clinic, sinus blockage and laryngitis, doctor's appointment, pharmacy, groceries, and more rain and fog and misery of coughing followed.

Thus I posted nothing on November 30, December 1, and December 2.

I couldn't.

So I hunkered and waited.