More Delights and Disdains . . .

of a diminutive nature of late . . . Number 11

Disdains:

Paying almost double the amount for a Christmas tree as compared to just 5 years ago. When I was a child, we used to walk our woods looking for just the right cedar tree. Then we switched over to the more hardy fir trees grown at a neighboring tree farm. We purchased trees there until an unfortunate incident occurred between one of my dachshunds and the farmer’s dog who launched a sneak attack from under a tree prompting me to retaliate in a strange holiday themed act of mutually assured destruction. Many growls ensued. Now we just make do with trees found at a typical Christmas tree lot. When we can afford them.

Delights:

Searching for a Christmas gift for my 3 year old grandnephew. Thinking about giving him a set of Lincoln Logs to infuse him with a pioneering spirit and to teach him the value of home construction . . . and destruction, depending upon his mood. I had a set when I was young and and I quickly discovered that I could construct great walls to crash my electric train into. Better than Legos for early learning. Plus they are still made of wood.

Viewing Napoleon at the local cinema. I was curious if the film could match the scenic lushness and violent beauty of Ridley Scott’s directorial debut The Duellists (1977), also set during the Napoleonic Wars and one of my favorite movies. In Napoleon, Scott uses the sweeping scenery found in the first film to present a duel of nation-states while adding humor and, strangely, an endearing goofiness to his main character. Or maybe Scott, like the British tabloids of the day, was just making fun of Napoleon.

Having my deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming updated just in time for the holidays - the first substantial change since early 2021. Orchestrating my limbs to move in concert is an art and my neurologist is an accomplished maestro. Much love and appreciation goes out to my favorite person, Dr. W.

Discussing with my son the various literary and historical interpretations that he has heard from his professors during the past semester and discovering that he has developed a mind for critical thought and can reach logical conclusions on his own . . . even when we disagree.