A chilly, rainy December 25th in Pittsburgh. It fits. The Steelers lost again. Since my father died and Mom sold the old homestead and she now travels around the country visiting all of her adult children (she's in Texas now) Christmas for me is not the same. I guess that's what happens when you don't have children of your own and you're not in a relationship (I'm straight) and you get close to being old enough for social security. I've never made friends easily. I know a lot of people but they're mostly barroom acquaintances; we don't visit one another's homes.
So here I sit, alone, listening to the radio on a dark and rainy late Christmas afternoon, working at the computer, waiting for football to start on TV. There's no beer in the apartment. I'm sure I could go out and find an open bar and bring back some beer or maybe even stay at the bar and watch the games on the cable TV set; but who wants to sit in a bar on Christmas with a bunch of strangers? The majority of the strangers will be other lonely men just like me. And if the person behind the bar is female and young we'll all spend as much time watching her as we spend watching the game. Some of us will compete with each other, trying to impress her with conversation we think is witty--sober, we would know a lot of what we say is obnoxious. If she's a real trooper she'll laugh or ignore because it's Christmas and she needs the tips. The more sentimental ones of us will leave her big tips. Or maybe the tips are tributes to our own lost youth.
No, I'll stay in. I can get beer tomorrow. Three Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have just finished singing the Nation Anthem on the radio. I refuse to pay for television but I know at least this game will be on regular TV. I haven't eaten all day. So, I'll put on the game and fix myself some homefries with onions and green peppers, black pepper and garlic powder and cut up pieces of turkey. There's a soda pop machine in the lobby downstairs.
One good thing that I'm excited about is my new homepage. It should help me promote my book. Now that brings a smile to my face.
I'm reading through your articles this evening and enjoying all of them. You have reminded me, with the content of this write, of reading an interview with Rosamunde Pilcher many years ago. She stated that her stories are about ordinary events in the lives of ordinary people. After reading your articles, I will turn to your stories. Again, I thank you for sharing your gift and your passion for this art with us.
With love,
Susan
ummm, what's this? the fries are cooked with the onions and peppers? i'll have to try it. why not put a tooth of garlic instead of the powder? thanks for the tip. here's one for you: cook a portion of the frozen mixed veggies in a med. pot--you can add fresh onion--then when you scramble 2 or 3 eggs pour the veggies on top of the eggs as they are scrambling, later turn. sort of like a veggie omelette. add salt & pepper to taste. :o)
What began as Songs of the Angelic Gaze in the summer of 2006 continued the following year as The Bridge of Silver Wings, and developed even further two years after that into The Bridge of Silver Wings 2009. Whether readers describe it as a conversa
With love,
Susan