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    ‘Round midnight

    Before I forget, Atsushi says Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. (He may have just meant everyone in my family, but I’ll take the liberty of assuming he meant everyone I know in America. In addition to conveying his good wishes, I had to remember to give my parents the gift he sent along with me, since he couldn’t make it, which was a rooster figurine. It wasn’t a random choice: 2005 will be the Year of the Rooster according to the Chinese zodiac, which Japan also uses. Yes, I’m aware that rooster isn’t the word that’s usually used to translate it in this context, but it somehow didn’t seem like the best idea to address my parents in bright tones with the line, “It’s a cock from Atsushi, for good luck in the new year!”)



    Since we had, as always, the traditional turkey/cranberry sauce/football dinner with my father’s side of the family on Sunday, today was open to play with a little. It being my first time home on Thanksgiving for a good seven years, my parents decided to base dinner around (1) what I don’t get to eat much in Japan and (2) what Mom wouldn’t have to clean up after. So we went out for steaks. My parents and little brother are fun to be around; there was hilarity as well as meat, potatoes, drink, and thanksgiving.



    But unfortunately for me, whiskey + wine + port + jet lag = ZZZZZZZZ, and I ended up falling asleep before the best part of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. (What do you mean, “Which one?”? When Peppermint Patty flips out over getting cereal for Thanksgiving dinner, of course. Do I have to walk you guys through every flippin’ thing?) Still, it was a good day overall.



    The other part of jet lag is, having had a two-hour nap, I’m now ready for a workout. Maybe I’ll take the flashlight and go for a walk–the rain seems to have died down.



    Happy last few minutes of Thanksgiving, all.



    25 November 23:54 EST

    7 Responses to “‘Round midnight”

    1. Sean Kinsell says:

      It’s funny you mention that, because my parents live close enough to the highway that my room occasionally shakes if a major-ass tractor-trailer goes by. The first night I was here, I got jolted awake once or twice thinking, Damn! It’s the big one!…Oh, yeah. Kind of funny. Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend!

    2. Mrs. du Toit says:

      You, too!
      “…cock from Atsushi..”
      That should have come with a spew warning.

    3. Cool, my son will be a cock!!!!!
      Makes a mother’s heart just swell with pride.

    4. John says:

      I hope the rest of your break is just as good. Enjoy the earthquake-free zones.

    5. Sean Kinsell says:

      I love the way this topic brings out the swelling and spewing metaphors. I also wonder, since Draco will be a dragon born in the Year of the Cock, what particular auspicious meaning that might have. I’m sure one of my friends back in Japan knows.

    6. Let me know when you find out! My imagination is running wild with ideas.

    7. Portia says:

      Wandering over from Eric’s blog. Love stories of people living abroad, now that I’m old and more or less settled. My oldest nephew is almost 24, born in the year of the … cock. Figures.
      And all our local Chinese restaurants call this the year of the rooster. I’d never wondered why till now.