Wednesday, December 29, 2004

12/29 Shoot!

Just found out I'm not working at CSz this weekend. That reeks. I could have stayed in Quincy instead of coming back to Milwaukee. I came back because I didn't think I should take off two weekends in a row from CSz.

Ah, well. I guess it will be nice to have a full three-day weekend with no obligations. Quite unusual actually. Perhaps I'll see what my brother and s-i-l in Aurora are doing for NY Eve.

I really do want to be in Quincy. Our New Year's Day ritual is unique, I believe. We all go out to the cemetary and have a beer with Mom and Dad. We stand around their graves and laugh at the great times we had and remember how wonderful they were. One of my brothers then usually pours a little beer on their graves. When there's snow on the ground, the beer looks like pee and that makes us laugh too.

After a little while we all adjourn to the house we grew up in, now owned by my brother Joe and his wife Cindy. We spend the day eating and playing games...and making fun of each other. It's actually an exquisite day, and I wish I could be there.

(I must confess there's another ritual--the boys try to make me wet my pants. It happened once, about 15 years ago, and they keep trying for a repeat performance. I laughed so hard that day that pepsi squirted out of my nose and I couldn't control myself.)

I always get so homesick around the holidays. But it'll pass and I'll be my old self again. Rob and Beata look forward to moving to Chicago from Japan to rescue me from this. That will be awesome, having my son and d-i-l so nearby.

6 comments:

Diva! said...

I dont have plans for NY Eve if you want to do CSz in p-town.

Jerilyn Dufresne, author said...

Well, that's the first offer I've had, since I thought I'd be busy working. Let's see, with the time zone difference I could climb in a plane at... Oh nevermind. The spirit is willing, but the wallet is weak. Thanks for the offer.

I did get invited to an open house, so I'll have something to do New Year's Day. That should be fun.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jer:
Wondering if you'd be able to hop a train back to Quincy after all? Maybe as a surprise? None of my business, of course...but it sounds like SUCH A BLAST! Peeing when you laugh should be the barometer by which all humor is measured.

Have a wonderful New Year. Lord knows it's good to be rid of 2004.

-- Gretchen

Jerilyn Dufresne, author said...

I checked out the train and the prices are up for the weekend. I also checked out using a frequent flyer ticket but no free seats are available. Then I checked the prices to fly and it would be more than $500. So I'm just going to stay home. The good news is that I have a lot of work to do at home, so there will be no excuses not to get it done. But you and I were certainly on the same wavelength, Gretchen.

Diva! said...

I'm glad you found something to do tonight. It turns out that I do too! Happy New Year Jer!

Jerilyn Dufresne, author said...

Thanks, Marta. I'll post tomorrow about the evening... Happy New Year to you too.