Christmas Letter 2009
When my Mom and Dad and Josh helped me move to college, we flew into Boston with eleven suitcases and also brought a printer onto the airplane as a carry-on. As we stood on the curb, waiting for the hotel shuttle, juggling our many items, a passerby stopped to chide us, “A printer huh? Didn’t think you could buy those in Boston? Hahahaha-ha” Last fall, Josh and I brought a suitcase full of Indian corn through security (much to the amusement of the personnel, who called it “Native American corn”), and when we came back after Thanksgiving last month we had a small Christmas tree in our luggage.
Such are the lives of these city dwellers, transporting goods back from the provinces on our various journeys home. This year, we have become very good city dwellers: I have a bicycle, Josh walks to work, we utilize public transportation, and are friendly to our neighbors whenever we have a chance to be so (we keep a cup of sugar in a zip lock bag by the door, just in case!). Also, we have realized the dream of all other city folk (or at least the dream that the country music radio station imposes on country fans in the city) by buying a farm out in the country, down an old dirt road. I’m not sure what sort of farmers this makes us—hobby? Indentured? Virtual? Satellite? Insane? Soybean?—but at the very least we are enthusiastic and eagerly aspiring farmers. Maybe we’ll write a song when we move home to Bergen Road?
Unfortunately, the rest of the details of our year may not make for the greatest song lyrics and I worry that they’re barely interesting enough for the Christmas card, so I’ll attempt some clever embellishments and cheesy titles for the sake of greater reading pleasure. (This is something that you are allowed to do in Christmas letters right?)
“The Scientist Shuffle”
The dance step isn’t as important as the group costume: white jackets and big plastic glasses. Josh started a new job at the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research last March, where he is helping to develop treatments for diabetes.
“Pick Me First, And Love Me Forever Waltz”
During recess at Novartis, Josh continues to amaze his coworkers with his volleyball prowess. Every day his friends from college call him and ask him to play basketball and most every weekend his friends from high school call him at three o’clock in the morning to tell him that they love him.
“The Ballad of Validation”
I am currently the fastest rower in the entire world (so say my mother and husband; of course I am inwardly appreciative, though outwardly, and realistically, skeptical) and am happily employed coaching the soon-to-be world’s fastest rowers. Basically, I’m changing young lives every day. Also, I have started a blog. I am somewhat apprehensive about this. But from time to time I dream of being a writer and so I must have an audience. Will you humor me and read it on occasion? www.greenbeanclub.blogspot.com
“Our Disillusionment Blues”
After learning about the Trail in third grade social studies class, we sometimes imagined that hiking the Appalachian Trail would be a dream vacation. Last August we spent a long weekend in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and climbed a mile and a half of the trail, reached the summit of a small mountain (or perhaps a large hill) and, once there, drank from the crystal clear waters of Lonesome Lake. (We then looked across the lake to see a “through hiker” using our water as a bathtub.) At the outpost near Lonesome Lake, we were in close proximity to some through hikers (these are people actually trekking the entire trail, not just doing day hikes) long enough to cringe at the four months of accumulated grime and then rest happily in our hotel that night. Later in the weekend, we drove to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the North Eastern United States. While driving sounds a bit weak, a car actually caught fire while we were driving up the mountain and during the very harrowing eight mile drive we were yelled at by a group of motorcyclists, so it was not without dangers. After our trip, we are inspired to do more hikes and to consider the purchase of a tent, but have decided against doing the entire two thousand mile journey at one time and also against trips that will take us into close proximity to motorcycle gangs.
“The Resolution Remix”
I’ve decided to take up piano playing again, so I bought a piano book and have been spending a afternoons in the practice rooms at Harvard. Oddly, these rooms are not sound proof. So while I am able to take great pleasure listening to the pianists practice their amazing songs, I also know that the prodigies are on the other side of the wall, listening to me pick out Minuet I from “The Little Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach,” wondering what oafish child has infiltrated the music department. It is very warm in the practice rooms, and the music is soft and accomplished drifting through the walls: sometimes I just go there to rest my head on the lyre and fall asleep.
The rest of the songs we are singing are seasonally festive in nature. We are wishing you, of course, very Merry Christmases and very Happy New Years, with plenty of fa-la-la-la-las and alleluias to fill you with joy!
Much love in these holidays and throughout the new year!
The Monotone Angel (Carrie) and the Fabulous Farmer (Josh)
Such are the lives of these city dwellers, transporting goods back from the provinces on our various journeys home. This year, we have become very good city dwellers: I have a bicycle, Josh walks to work, we utilize public transportation, and are friendly to our neighbors whenever we have a chance to be so (we keep a cup of sugar in a zip lock bag by the door, just in case!). Also, we have realized the dream of all other city folk (or at least the dream that the country music radio station imposes on country fans in the city) by buying a farm out in the country, down an old dirt road. I’m not sure what sort of farmers this makes us—hobby? Indentured? Virtual? Satellite? Insane? Soybean?—but at the very least we are enthusiastic and eagerly aspiring farmers. Maybe we’ll write a song when we move home to Bergen Road?
Unfortunately, the rest of the details of our year may not make for the greatest song lyrics and I worry that they’re barely interesting enough for the Christmas card, so I’ll attempt some clever embellishments and cheesy titles for the sake of greater reading pleasure. (This is something that you are allowed to do in Christmas letters right?)
“The Scientist Shuffle”
The dance step isn’t as important as the group costume: white jackets and big plastic glasses. Josh started a new job at the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research last March, where he is helping to develop treatments for diabetes.
“Pick Me First, And Love Me Forever Waltz”
During recess at Novartis, Josh continues to amaze his coworkers with his volleyball prowess. Every day his friends from college call him and ask him to play basketball and most every weekend his friends from high school call him at three o’clock in the morning to tell him that they love him.
“The Ballad of Validation”
I am currently the fastest rower in the entire world (so say my mother and husband; of course I am inwardly appreciative, though outwardly, and realistically, skeptical) and am happily employed coaching the soon-to-be world’s fastest rowers. Basically, I’m changing young lives every day. Also, I have started a blog. I am somewhat apprehensive about this. But from time to time I dream of being a writer and so I must have an audience. Will you humor me and read it on occasion? www.greenbeanclub.blogspot.com
“Our Disillusionment Blues”
After learning about the Trail in third grade social studies class, we sometimes imagined that hiking the Appalachian Trail would be a dream vacation. Last August we spent a long weekend in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and climbed a mile and a half of the trail, reached the summit of a small mountain (or perhaps a large hill) and, once there, drank from the crystal clear waters of Lonesome Lake. (We then looked across the lake to see a “through hiker” using our water as a bathtub.) At the outpost near Lonesome Lake, we were in close proximity to some through hikers (these are people actually trekking the entire trail, not just doing day hikes) long enough to cringe at the four months of accumulated grime and then rest happily in our hotel that night. Later in the weekend, we drove to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the North Eastern United States. While driving sounds a bit weak, a car actually caught fire while we were driving up the mountain and during the very harrowing eight mile drive we were yelled at by a group of motorcyclists, so it was not without dangers. After our trip, we are inspired to do more hikes and to consider the purchase of a tent, but have decided against doing the entire two thousand mile journey at one time and also against trips that will take us into close proximity to motorcycle gangs.
“The Resolution Remix”
I’ve decided to take up piano playing again, so I bought a piano book and have been spending a afternoons in the practice rooms at Harvard. Oddly, these rooms are not sound proof. So while I am able to take great pleasure listening to the pianists practice their amazing songs, I also know that the prodigies are on the other side of the wall, listening to me pick out Minuet I from “The Little Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach,” wondering what oafish child has infiltrated the music department. It is very warm in the practice rooms, and the music is soft and accomplished drifting through the walls: sometimes I just go there to rest my head on the lyre and fall asleep.
The rest of the songs we are singing are seasonally festive in nature. We are wishing you, of course, very Merry Christmases and very Happy New Years, with plenty of fa-la-la-la-las and alleluias to fill you with joy!
Much love in these holidays and throughout the new year!
The Monotone Angel (Carrie) and the Fabulous Farmer (Josh)
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