It's been five years since I've been "home" for the holidays. I've always missed my family the most on Thanksgiving and Christmas, since our formative years we would often spend those holidays with extended family. I don't remember when the last time I was truly home for the holidays. The last Thanksgiving I spent in America was at my sister's house. The last Christmas was in the Poconos with my brother and parents (where my brother informed me that it would probably be his last Christmas spent with our family...) Maybe I'm putting too much thought (or explanation?) into this. Why am I talking Christmas already? I know Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet (I'm SO looking forward to Thanksgiving, with my brother & the Cash family... and Amanda!)

Last weekend I went home. not to a home I've ever lived in, but to visit my parents in Baltimore. Wherever they are, wherever my excess stuff is, that will be home. I guess. It was a short visit. I got to meet and chat with someone who's started a gallery/gathering place (aka church) there in downtown Baltimore. I met 3 young women who are serving as missionaries in the Embrace Baltimore initiative.  I flipped through photo albums of when my siblings and I were young. I realized (once again) what a truly happy childhood I had.  and just how amazing my parents are. These same amazing parents took me to my favorite place, NYC, for a day. We went to MoMA and saw an amazing Van Gogh exhibit, highlighting his artistic development. We went to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and saw the Rockettes, the first time for each of us. It was spectacular. I was most amazed at the synchronization of it all. What surprised me, though, was that as the first song began, my eyes welled up with tears. I realized then, this is my first Christmas in America in 5 years. and I'm so glad to be here. I know so many are bothered by the commercialization of it all. Annoyed at the PC'isms like "Happy Holidays." then there's the manager of the store I work in who swears there will be no Christmas music played because she hates it. That makes me sad. a woman on the plane was telling another woman about what great pottery you can buy in Sea Grove, NC, makes great Christmas gifts. The other woman said, "I've never gotten into all that, I grew up poor, and still don't see the point." what is my point? I'm not exactly sure. Just have to ramble every now and then, I guess. back to NYC... The tree was being put up in Rockefeller Center. What a huge production that is in itself! We went to a fantastic restaurant in the flat iron district called "Pranna" which means "breath of life" in Sanskrit. I found this restaurant online and was intrigued by it because the chef (who is Indian) had spent a good bit of time learning to cook in Thailand. in Koh Samui and also Chiang Mai. His dishes are described as having a touch of Thai, Cambodian, Lao and Indian. This guy's work lived up to my expectations... the food was AMAZING! and I missed my restauranteer sisters, Cresta and Amanda, because we love to try out new restaurants, and comment on everything throughout (from menu to decor to plating). I missed that while I was at Pranna, but was glad to share it with my parents.

My final day at home was spent shopping for a winter coat and boots, and then putting up our family's Christmas tree (mom said, "as long as you're here..."). I was always anxious to put up the tree... but we had a rule that it couldn't go up until after my dad's birthday (dec 4). We have one of those ecclectic trees. With bubble lights. and an angel on top that used to look so big but now looks so very small. and lots of random ornaments that were either hand made by one of us, or gifts.  it's a tree full of history. thankfully it's no longer the tree that was purchased for $5 from a yard sale before I was born.  that one took half a day just to put together with it's color coded spokes and worn out wooden pole. the time-consuming part this time was unwrapping everything. Now, instead of the tinsel, there's a ribbon wrapped around, as though it's holding together these holiday memories. of our family.  It was a perfect weekend at home. And has me ready for the holidays. Even though I don't have any money.  I will be home in a sense. 

Paul and Shay are out of town so I'm taking care of the babies while they're gone. Mimi (my mother) has come to help, which I am SO grateful for! It's tough work... the 24/7 meeting every one of their needs. whew. but I am enjoying it. Today was a rather ambitious day. We made sure Lena got a good nap early in the AM so that we could go to church together and then go to Cider Days, Springfield's fall arts festival on historic Walnut Street. I've been looking forward to this for a while and since I had to work on Saturday, Sunday was the only option to go. Graham and Lena both did great and mom and I really enjoyed walking around. Lena was not content to ride in the lower bunk of the double stroller, so I carried her in the peanut shell sling for most of the time. she got in another snooze there. The funny thing to me was that I felt like I was back in Thailand riding in the motorbike-sidecar (in a way...) Carrying this adorable baby in a sling, I got so many LOOKS. and comments. it was fun. Graham got to "paint" a play house (with a shaving cream/water mixture). It was really hard to move on to something else from that. Mimi and I were hungry though. We passed the cinnamon-sugared nut stand and couldn't resist. then for more substance, we found some gyros.

The highlights for me were chatting with people at two different booths. One was a Hmong couple from Laos. I recognized the Hmong patterns on the bags and pillowcases they were selling and asked about them. I learned they had escaped in '75 and had not been back. They've been selling handicrafts in the States for the past 20 years, mostly in Seattle, but have recently moved to Arkansas. It was so neat to talk to them. They said they raised 5 kids while selling handicrafts, that they would be sitting around their booths, under the tables :) I asked her if being in America had changed the way she made things. She said the material was of much higher quality and she used different kinds of colors (she showed me a pillowcase with tie-dyed material!) They had lots of little beanie/sand filled animals that were adorable. We couldn't get Graham to settle on one and he lost interest.

The other booth was for a couple who are missionaries in El Salvador. They are both artists, he a photographer and she a painter. I had seen a display of some of their work in the Randy Bacon gallery during the last artwalk.  It was great to talk to him about their work and put a face to their names. I bought a small painting from them and am sure I will be reminded of them often as I see it and lift them up as well as their work in El Salvador. So neat.

my last stop was by one of the Coffee Ethic booths, which has become one of my favorite places in Springfield. I would like to work there so badly. but have yet to have been offered a job :( anyway, I go there once a week or so to work on graphics stuff for SAM (the marketing company I worked for in Thailand). That's where I got a cup of hot cider. but as I walked, Lena (now awake) keep trying to get herself a drink. So I knew it was time to high-tail it home and get her another bottle.

It was fun to see all the people, families, pets out and about. I do hope it won't be long before I'll be selling my own artwork at such an event. I've got to make some first, though. That would be a good next step towards that goal. I've gotten together most of my art supplies (all I need now is a sewing machine!)