It’s been a long week here. Starting with last week, actually – I flew my cousin M and her son in, starting Monday the 23rd. She is part of the California family – my grandpa went into the service at 18, my grandmother wouldn’t marry him until he got back, so he did what a reasonable 18 year old serviceman in California does on leave. The chickens came home to roost in 2005 or so after the advent of DNA testing. That side of the family, all daughters, all behave like aggressive boors. But my grandfather is close to her, and he needed the support, losing his son, so I flew them out. 

I discovered her insolence knows few, if any, bounds. Tuesday, my uncle passes in the hospice center. We come to see him one last time and escort him to the hearse out front. I am later told by my aunt that M goes back in shortly before the funeral home loads him onto their bed, and massages him head to toe. No explanation. She would later say she’s doing some kind of Native American « release the spirit » thing. My aunt and their daughter are understandably incensed. I had no idea what was happening until they called me the night afterwards. I said if she asked first, maybe it would’ve been alright, but you can’t just go putting your hands all on someone like that. 

After we left the center, we all drove down to a bar uncle/aunt used to frequent. Great place, had good drinks and food and enjoyed sharing memories. I went to take a piss, and apparently while I was in there, M was going around whispering wondering who was going to pay for her lunch. To this point, I’d paid for everything – what kind of question is this? Going around making me look like a chumbolone. Pisses me off! 

Thankfully, the Saturday at the end of the week,  I sent them both back. Later is when my aunt and others would call me to tell me of her bad behavior. I would also discover that while driving around, she ran into some No Kings counter-protestors with pro Trump and pro ICE signs. She would roll down the window and holler at them. What a dumbass – excuse my language – but she comes to my town, on my dime, in my rental car, and stirs it up? Who’s gonna save her if she gets arrested or beat up for being a dope? 

This week, thankfully, has been quieter. Unfortunately, the various little minor health issues I have are all exacerbated by stress, so I’ve been a bit under the weather this week –  worst of all, my diverticulosis, which sometimes can refer pain down to my nuts due to nerve proximity in the region. Quite literally a pain in the balls, this all has been. 

today, we find ourselves flying home from paris, via london. we’ve been at it for about twelve hours, and have roughly seven or eight left, depending on conditions at o’hare and the ride back home.

originally, this was planned as mainly a concert trip – sting and shaggy were performing sting’s the last ship musical production at le seine musicale, lara fabian was performing at bercy a few days later, and the following friday was the first paris date of i gotta feeling – la tournée des années 2000. separately, it developed into a nice re-do of the september trip, which was derailed by an attack of insomnia, previously detailed at length here.

we visited the jardin des plantes, ménagerie, the palace of versailles, and innumerable parks – a wonderful break from the terrible chicago winter weather. we were also able to meet with friends in town from norway and charmes, which is always nice – not often we’re all in the same place at the same time.

photos to come after i process them, sometime this week, just don’t hold me to it.

There is a recent (well, recent to me) trend in which people (meaning: men on the internet) seem to believe that if your life is not actively difficult or hard, that you aren’t really living. I believe there is value in doing difficult things, but I believe that the value comes in the conquering – one does not remain at war their entire lives, even Napoleon and Geronimo took time away on occasion.

To me, the true measure of a man who conquers is that he can rest. He commands his life and the world around him in such a way that he can indulge in the splendors of being the winner, and he doesn’t have to stand guard h24.

I have dealt with many minor crises over the past year – several bouts of pneumonia, the passing of my father, and my recent issues with MRSA. But amongst it, I have managed to carve out a pleasant life. I work out, but I do not obsess. I eat what pleases me, regardless of the nutritional facts and recommendations of an errant Kennedy. I’ve travelled the world, seen all matter of beautiful things, and I’ve spent many wonderful mornings on my couch with my dog.

There will come another battle, and more after that, but for now, I’m sitting on the couch, with the heated blanket on, writing to you all. They can do their protracted workouts, limit themselves to boiled chicken and rice, sit in frigid ice baths, wear their hairshirts and flagellate themselves as they will – I’ll be here. We must take our repose when we can, as even the Lord rested on the seventh – to deny it is to deny our divinity.

Happy new year to all, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. Here’s to 30 more, at a minimum.